Ron DeSantis asks a judge to dismiss Andrew Warren's looming lawsuit

• An armed guard escorted a surprised Warren from his office.
• Warren later sued in federal court, claiming DeSantis overstepped his authority and reversed the will of the voters.

The latest: DeSantis on Friday asked a judge to dismiss Warren's lawsuit on the grounds that Warren's speech as a government official is not protected by the First Amendment.

• And if the court finds that Warren was speaking personally and the speech is protected, DeSantis' motion argues, "his public refusals to enforce Florida law are still not protected."
• It also argues against federal court "intervention," saying the whole thing is a matter to be handled by the state.

The other side: "This is a poor defense of an indefensible abuse of power," Warren wrote in a statement emailed to Axios. "The fact that taxpayers continue to foot the bill for this makes it even more shameful."

Of note: Warren's corner is packed with legal heavyweights who filed a friend-of-the-court brief on Aug. 26, arguing that DeSantis' order "erodes confidence in the administration of justice."

• More than 60 people — including three retired Florida Supreme Court justices, former 2nd District Court of Appeal Judge E.J. Salcines and former Hillsborough Chief Judge Manuel Menendez Jr. — signed the brief that argues prosecutors have discretion and independent judgment and must use their limited resources judiciously.

What's next: Oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 19 before Senior U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle, who was nominated to the judiciary by Bill Clinton.