On Monday, the Florida Republican Party removed Christian Ziegler from his position as Chair amidst a police investigation into a rape allegation against him. This decision occurred just a week before Governor Ron DeSantis participates in Iowa’s influential presidential caucus.
Last month, the party had suspended Ziegler, urging him to resign due to the difficulty of leading effectively amidst such serious allegations, which he has denied. Prominent Republican figures, including Governor Ron DeSantis, Senators Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, and others, had previously called for Ziegler’s resignation, but he had resisted stepping down.
Governor DeSantis is currently vying for the Republican presidential nomination. In the run-up to the January 15 Iowa caucus, he is trailing behind former President Donald Trump, who is also from Florida. Senator Rick Scott is seeking re-election, and Florida is expected to play a pivotal role in the U.S. House control.
State Senator Joe Gruters, who previously held the position of party chair before Ziegler, emphasized the need to focus on the 2024 elections, highlighting Florida’s crucial role in Republican victories, especially for Rick Scott and potentially with Trump as the nominee.
The party is also grappling with issues beyond Ziegler’s accusation. Under Governor DeSantis’s administration, Florida has enacted policies restricting rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, including a ban on classroom discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation in early education.
Christian Ziegler and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, have acknowledged to the police their past consensual sexual relationship with the accuser. Bridget Ziegler, a Sarasota School Board member and co-founder of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, has not been charged with any crime.
Last year, Bridget Ziegler was appointed by Governor DeSantis to the board overseeing the Walt Disney World district. This appointment followed the state’s controversial takeover of the district after Disney opposed a new law banning classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity, a law championed by DeSantis.
The Sarasota Police Department is investigating the woman’s claim that she was raped by Christian Ziegler at her apartment in October. According to police reports, although the Zieglers and the woman had planned a sexual encounter involving all three, Bridget Ziegler was not present when the alleged assault occurred.
Christian Ziegler maintains his innocence, stating that the encounter was consensual, and he has not been charged with any crime.
Bridget Ziegler has also faced calls to resign from the Sarasota School Board, which she has refused. The Disney World district’s board, appointed by DeSantis, did not address her situation in their recent meeting, despite public comments pointing out potential hypocrisy.
The couple, known for their opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, has faced criticism and accusations of hypocrisy due to their involvement with another woman.
