FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Disgraced former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is suing over his removal from office.
Attorneys for Israel said a federal lawsuit contends Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Senate deprived him of due process and failed to follow a special master’s recommendation that he shouldn’t have been suspended from office.
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The lawsuit is pending in Tallahassee federal court.
DeSantis suspended Israel in January, citing “neglect of duty and incompetence” during two mass shootings in Broward County -- at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in January 2017 and at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day 2018.
Special Master Dudley Goodlette, a Republican and former state lawmaker, wrote in his 34-page report that DeSantis failed to present any evidence to support the Republican governor’s position.
The Senate voted 25-15 to uphold Israel’s removal.
DeSantis appointed Gregory Tony to replace Israel.
Israel is running against Tony to get his old job back in the 2020 election.
Five other Democrats, a Republican and an independent also filed to run.