Suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking reinstatement after he was replaced in January over his handling of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting last year.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Thursday that Israel's attorney called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Ron DeSantisTrump may meet with potential Supreme Court pick in Miami Florida governor unveils legislation targeting protesters in 'violent or disorderly' demonstrations Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE's (R) decision to suspend him a "power play" meant to stymie an elected official.

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"DeSantis engineered a political power play that interferes with the right of the public to determine their elected officials," the lawsuit reads, according to the newspaper.

“It was clearly a threat to the Senate,” Israel's attorney Stuart Kaplan told the Sun Sentinel. “He has tainted the ultimate decision makers. We don’t believe he can get a fair hearing.”

The sheriff was suspended by the governor in January after it was revealed that his department received more than a dozen tips about the suspected shooter before the attack, as well as reports that deputies failed to confront the gunman as the shooting took place.

Israel plans to pursue his reinstatement through Florida's state Senate while he challenges DeSantis in the courts, his attorney told the Sun Sentinel.

One Republican in the state Senate expressed disappointment with DeSantis, who said senators who vote to reinstate the sheriff were in effect "thumb[ing] their nose" at victims of the deadly mass shooting.

“We are not going to be a rubber stamp for the governor,” state Senate President Bill Galvano (R) told the Sun Sentinel of the governor's comments.

A spokeswoman for DeSantis defended Israel's suspension in a statement to the newspaper on Thursday following the lawsuit's filing.

“It is lamentable that Scott Israel refuses to be held accountable for his actions,” she said.