Current Ninth Judicial Court State Attorney Andrew Bain firmly denies that he is part of any scheme involving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding the race he’s in with the former state attorney that he replaced, Democrat Monique Worrell.
The two were in a debate on Wednesday hosted by the League of Women Voters.
Bain is registered as having no political affiliation but was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis after he removed Worrell. Worrell denies DeSantis’ claim that she neglected her prosecutorial duties and allowed violent criminals to escape consequences.
She claimed there has been manipulation of some of the candidates and is calling for a federal investigation.
“If we’re building a case against Ron DeSantis, then it just is further evidence to show the political games and extremes that he’s willing to go through to get his way,” she told News 6. “So they propped up this individual who wasn’t qualified by a longshot, who had been fired from the State Attorney’s Office for unethical behavior, such as what he’s done here, which is running for a seat that he knows that he full well did not intend to keep.”
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Bain defended himself against a question about corruption by another candidate for state attorney, Thomas Feiter.
He’s a Republican, but he agrees with Worrell that Gov. DeSantis is trying to control this race.
He filed a lawsuit against DeSantis, Bain and others, claiming among several things: corruption, misconduct, fraud and criminal election interference. Feiter lost to fellow Republican Seth Hyman in the Aug. 20 primary.
But now, Hyman has dropped out of the race, saying he doesn’t have enough money to continue running and denies being a sham candidate.
Worrell and Feiter insist Hyman colluded with the Republican establishment to step aside to ensure Andrew Bain wins the race to keep his seat as Orange Osceola State Attorney.
Feiter told News 6, “It’s very clear the governor wants to burst the blue bubble that is the ninth Judicial Circuit, and he one of the ways he wants to do that is by taking control of powerful positions, like the office of the state attorney.”
Bain denies all of the accusations and stated he is fair despite being appointed by DeSantis.
He told News 6, “My record shows that we prosecute Democrats and Republicans who prosecute nonparties, who prosecute law enforcement. We do the job in a fair and effective way.”
Voters will decide in November whether they want to return Worrell to office or keep Andrew Bain.
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