TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Republican Party suspended Chairman Christian Ziegler and demanded his resignation during an emergency meeting Sunday, joining calls from Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top officials for him to resign while police investigate a rape allegation. against him.
Ziegler is accused of raping a woman with whom he and his wife, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, had a prior consensual sexual relationship, according to police records.
“Christian Ziegler has engaged in conduct that makes him unfit for office,” the party’s motion to censure Ziegler said, according to a document posted on social media platform X by Lee County Republican Party Chairman Michael Thomason.
Ziegler attempted to defend himself during the closed-door meeting, but the party’s board quickly took action against him, Thompson said.
“Ziegler on the stand trying to defend himself, it’s not working,” Thompson posted before confirming the votes.
The party’s executive committee will hold another vote in the future on Ziegler’s dismissal.
The Sarasota Police Department is investigating the woman’s allegation that Ziegler raped her in his apartment in October.
Police documents say the Zieglers and the woman had planned a sexual threesome that day, but Bridget Ziegler was unable to attend. The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her.
Christian Ziegler has not been charged with any crime and says he is innocent and maintains the encounter was consensual.
The allegation has also caused turmoil for Bridget Ziegler, an elected member of the Sarasota School Board, although she is not charged with a crime.
On Tuesday, the board voted to ask him to resign. She rejected him.
The couple have openly opposed LGBTQ+ rights and their relationship with another woman has sparked criticism and accusations of hypocrisy.
In addition to DeSantis, Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Republican leaders of the Florida House and Senate have called for Christian Ziegler’s resignation.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn