DeSantis seeks lawsuit dismissal

Governor: Senate, not courts, proper venue for ex-sheriff’s case

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis filed a motion Thursday asking a judge to dismiss former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel’s lawsuit challenging his authority to suspend him from office.

“It is unfortunate that Scott Israel doesn’t like the facts,” DeSantis wrote on Twitter, announcing he was challenging Israel’s petition in court.

The Republican governor suspended Israel in January, citing neglect of duty and incompetence as the reasons. DeSantis accused Israel of not properly handling his agency’s response to the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting and the Parkland massacre.

Israel, a Democrat, filed a petition earlier this month in Broward County Circuit Court challenging DeSantis’ suspension order. The lawsuit accuses DeSantis of overstepping his authority and engineering a “political power play.”

In his response, DeSantis argues he was on firm legal ground when he issued the suspension, and the Florida Senate — not the courts — is the proper venue for Israel to present his case.

Under Florida law, the Republican-controlled Senate is charged with upholding or overturning the governor’s suspensions.

Israel has also requested a hearing in the Senate, but those proceedings are on hold until the lawsuit is resolved.

DeSantis