Suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has filed a court petition challenging the legal authority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who removed him from office, court documents show.
The documents, filed Thursday, allege that DeSantis exceeded his authority in suspending Israel.
On Jan. 11, days after taking office, DeSantis removed Israel from office and replaced him with Gregory Tony following the turmoil and outcries sparked by the killing of 17 staff and students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
At the time, DeSantis said, “the massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff’s department.
Later in January, Israel formally began the process of trying to get his job back by notifying the Florida Senate that he was challenging the governor’s action.
The Florida Senate ultimately has the authority to decide the fate of a public official removed from office by the governor.
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