A new lawsuit has surfaced, accusing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and several GOP officials of conspiring to manipulate the upcoming State Attorney election in central Florida. Filed by Republican candidate Thomas Feiter, the lawsuit claims that DeSantis and his allies orchestrated a plot to ensure that DeSantis’ appointee, Andrew Bain, secures the top prosecutor position for the metro Orlando district.
The Alleged “Sham Candidacy”
According to the lawsuit, the plot involved Seth Hyman, who initially ran against Feiter in the GOP primary. Feiter alleges that Hyman’s candidacy was a “sham” and that GOP officials were aware he would drop out after winning the primary. In early September, Hyman did just that, withdrawing from the race and endorsing Andrew Bain, who is running as a non-affiliated candidate. No replacement Republican candidate was named, leaving Bain with no GOP competition.
Accusations of Election Fraud
Feiter’s lawsuit accuses GOP officials of election fraud and violations of Florida’s election code, stating their actions were meant to “corruptly influence” the election outcome. The lawsuit demands that the GOP primary results be invalidated due to misconduct and fraud.
“Their conspiracy and misconduct were intended to affect the election results and keep Andrew Bain in office,” the lawsuit claims.
Response and Political Context
Seth Hyman has dismissed the lawsuit as “completely frivolous” and an abuse of the court system. Representatives from Bain’s campaign and Governor DeSantis’ office have yet to comment on the matter.
This lawsuit follows the suspension of former State Attorney Monique Worrell by DeSantis in August 2023. DeSantis argued that Worrell had failed to prosecute serious crimes, particularly gun-related offenses, endangering public safety. Worrell, a Democrat, claims her removal was politically motivated, as it occurred during DeSantis’ bid for the GOP presidential nomination. She insists her suspension violated the state constitution, as she was simply fulfilling her duties.
DeSantis has faced similar allegations before. In 2022, he removed another Democratic prosecutor, Andrew Warren, in Tampa, citing Warren’s refusal to enforce certain state laws, particularly regarding abortion and gender transition treatments.
Broader Implications
This lawsuit reflects ongoing political tensions in Florida, particularly between Governor DeSantis and Democratic officials. If the allegations prove true, it could spark significant concerns over election integrity and the extent to which political power is being leveraged to influence outcomes.
As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to see how the court addresses the claims of election fraud and what impact it could have on the upcoming general election.
