Prosecutor: Governor changed his view on meddling in cases

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Mike Schneider, Associated Press Updated 3:20 pm, Monday, May 8, 2017


ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Florida prosecutor who refuses to seek the death penalty said Monday in court documents that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has changed his views on whether it's proper to interfere with prosecutors' decisions.

State Attorney Aramis Ayala in Orlando is fighting Scott's orders to transfer almost two dozen cases from her office after she said her office wouldn't pursue the death penalty. Ayala's court filing with the Florida Supreme Court says that in four recent instances where citizens wrote to Scott to complain about the handling of criminal cases, his office replied that he couldn't intervene because the state attorney is an elected official.
 
"Either Scott was being less than honest with these citizens or his view has changed suddenly," the court filings suggests, tongue-in-cheek. "Scott now claims he can reassign state attorneys against their will whenever he wants, and for whatever reason he wants as long as doing so is not 'without any reason whatsoever.'"
 
The fight between the governor and prosecutor started nearly two months ago when Ayala said her office would no longer seek the death penalty, saying the process is costly and it drags on for the victims' relatives.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Prosecutor-Governor-changed-his-view-on-meddling-11129757.php

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

1. It should be noted. . .

That the case Governor Scott decided to interfere with was one dealing with the death of a cop.
He is playing politics as usual.
Still no word on AG Pam Bondi accepting a $25,000.00 bribe from Trump's foundation.

[Judi Lynn]

2. It disappeared into thin air. It's far too serious, you'd think, for it to go away.

Thanks for the reminder.

Welcome to D.U., Mazeltov Cocktail.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Republicans always want to butter both sides of their bread

and use it when they like