TAMPA — About 24 hours after he was suspended as state attorney of the 13th Judicial District, Andrew Warren said he is still exploring his legal options.

Speaking with reporters on a conference call, Warren addressed his Thursday suspension from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying he was "blindsided" by what happened.

Warren had planned a media briefing Thursday about two cold cases from 1983, and he called DeSantis's timing of the suspension "unconscionable," citing the victims who had been waiting for news about arrests in the case. He said the governor's "political sideshow" potentially took away the family's moment.

He eventually held the briefing, but not at his office, where deputies had escorted him out.

Warren, first elected to the office in 2016, said he has been in contact with staffers, telling them "to keep doing what they've been doing for the last five and a half years."

DeSantis cited "neglect of duty" and a "blanket refusal to enforce criminal laws" in Florida as reasons for removing Warren from office.

DeSantis said Warren put himself above the law by signing letters saying he would not enforce any prohibitions on sex change operations for minors and would not prosecute abortion cases.

"This is not about what I've done. It's about what I've said," Warren said Friday. "And the governor's mischaracterization of what I said," adding that the letters were "value statements" about his beliefs.

Warren said the governor exhibited a "blatant abuse of power."

"If the official that you elected does something that the governor disagrees with, the governor feels like he has the power to remove that person from office.

"That should terrify anybody that believes in our democracy."