A former lawyer as the Florida Department of Health points the finger at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration for threatening television stations that air abortion rights ads.

Last week, John Wilson, then general counsel for the Florida Department of Health, abruptly resigned from his position after sending cease-and-desist letters to various television networks threatening criminal prosecution and airing ads in support of Amendment 4, a ballot measure that – if passed – it would enshrine in the state constitution the right to abortion care over fetal viability. The change would effectively repeal the state’s strict six-week abortion ban, which has had a devastating impact on health care providers and patients since it was enacted.

“A man is nothing without his conscience,” Wilson wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the newspaper Miami Herald“It has become clear in the last few days that I cannot accompany you on the path that lies ahead of the agency.”

But Wilson goes a step further than just resigning, certifying in an affidavit unsealed Monday that while his office was responsible for sending the letters, the instruction came directly from DeSantis’ office.

“I did not write the letters or participate in discussions about the letters prior to October 3, 2024,” Wilson said. “Ryan Newman, General Counsel for the Executive Office of the Governor, and Jed Doty, Deputy General Counsel for the Executive Office of the Governor, directed me to send them under my name and on behalf of the Florida Department of Health.”

“I have resigned from my position as general counsel rather than comply with Newman and Doty’s instructions and send further correspondence to the media, similar to the letters dated October 3, 2024,” he added.

As already reported by Rolling Stone, The DeSantis administration has waged a brazen campaign to reject Amendment 4 before Election Day. The state government managed to add language to the ballot measure — a purported “financial impact statement” — warning that increasing the availability of abortion care “will negatively impact state and local revenue growth over time.” could”. The state has harassed people who participated in the signature drive needed to place the amendment on the ballot and launched a website attacking the measure as a threat to women’s safety.

Wilson’s affidavit was submitted in connection with a lawsuit filed by Floridians Protecting Freedom — the reproductive freedom group behind the ads — against State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Wilson. Last week, the DeSantis administration was sharply rebuked by U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, who ruled in favor of Floridians Protecting Freedom and blocked the administration’s efforts to remove the ads from broadcasts.

“To keep it simple for the state of Florida: It’s First Amendment stupid,” Walker wrote.