Gov. Ron DeSantis’s close legal advisers ordered the Florida Department of Health to send unconstitutional threats regarding an abortion ballot measure, according to a federal court filing. Ordered to keep sending letters warning TV stations of criminal charges if they continued airing an advertisement promoting the abortion measure, the agency’s top lawyer resigned in protest earlier this month, he wrote in an affidavit that was filed on Monday.

John Wilson, the now former general counsel for the state Health Department, wrote in his affidavit that DeSantis’s general counsel and his underlings drafted the letters and ordered Wilson to send them. “I did not draft the letters or participate in any discussions about the letters prior to October 3,” Wilson wrote.

By the time he resigned on October 10, the agency had sent threatening letters to approximately 50 stations around Florida. At least one station stopped running the ad, according to court filings.

The measure, Amendment 4, would amend the Florida Constitution so that the state legislature could not pass abortion bans or other restrictions before fetal viability. It would also prohibit bans that do not have exceptions for the health of the patient, as determined by their health care provider.

The affidavit was filed as part of a lawsuit brought by Amendment 4’s sponsor, Floridians Protecting Freedom, over the threats to TV stations. The letters were just the latest drastic step DeSantis and other Florida officials have taken to oppose Amendment 4, including asking the Florida Supreme Court to keep it off the ballot entirely.

“This affidavit exposes state interference at the highest level,” said Lauren Brenzel, Floridians Protecting Freedom’s campaign director for Amendment 4. “It’s clear the State is hellbent on keeping Florida’s unpopular, cruel........

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