Florida AG Says Nurse Relinquished License Over Anti-MAGA Post

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier posted on X on Thursday that "Effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida" after a now-deleted Facebook post in which Martindale said he would not "perform anesthesia" for "MAGA" patients, Uthmeier said.

Florida Department of Health records show Erik Martindale voluntarily relinquished his license and the license verification field on the department website states voluntary relinquishment "does not constitute discipline," officials confirmed.

Erik Martindale said his Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked, a claim that has not been independently verified and that state officials did not immediately confirm, according to his online statements and a high-ranking state official familiar with the case.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo revoked or suspended the nursing license of Lexie Lawler on Wednesday after a viral video in which she wished harm on White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Lawler was fired by her employer, state officials said.

The episode has reignited debate over Florida's 2023 Protections of Medical Conscience Act and the Florida Board of Nursing could consider further disciplinary or licensing action, state officials and legal observers said.