Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed his former Chief of Staff James Usmier as new Attorney General. Uthmeier, 37, was sworn in at a ceremony in Tallahassee.
Uthmeier is replacing Ashley Moody, who was selected as a vacant US Senate seat for Desantis after Marco Rubio became US Secretary of State. Uthmeier will lead Florida’s legal challenges on conservative issues aligned with Trump’s agenda.
During the ceremony, Desantis praised Uthmeier as a “bulldog” for tackling tough issues. Uthmeier was important in shaping a legal strategy for federal missions during the Covid-19 pandemic and dismantling diversity programs in higher education.
He supported conservative principles and committed to actively pursuing justice, including fighting drug trafficking and human trafficking. Uthmeier also plans to challenge legal efforts aimed at undermining abortion restrictions and other conservative policies, claiming that left-wing ideology will not affect Florida’s legal system. .
Uthmeier has extensive experience in government, earning degrees in business administration, political science and international business from the University of Florida, and a law degree from Georgetown Law School. Before joining DeSantis, he served as senior adviser to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross of the Trump administration and worked for law firm Jones Day.
