Florida GOP Chairman, Christian Ziegler, has been suspended and told to resign during an emergency party meeting on Sunday, amid an ongoing police investigation into rape allegations against him.
Mr. Ziegler has been accused of rape by a woman with whom he and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, reportedly had a prior consensual sexual relationship. Mr. Ziegler has denied the rape accusation and said anything that took place was consensual. Police have not laid any criminal charges.
According to a document shared on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, by Lee County GOP Chairman Michael Thompson, Florida’s Republican Party put forward a motion to censure and suspend Mr. Ziegler on the basis he has engaged in “conduct that renders him unfit for the office.”
Mr. Thompson revealed in multiple social media posts that Mr. Ziegler tried to defend himself during the meeting. However, the Republican Party of Florida’s executive board ultimately decided to take disciplinary action.
Among the several motions that passed during the closed-door meeting were to censure and suspend Mr. Ziegler, reduce his salary from $120,000 to $1, and revoke his reimbursements.
Another vote will reportedly be held on Jan. 8 in Tallahassee to remove Mr. Ziegler and elect a new chair if he hasn’t resigned. Most of his duties have already been transferred to Florida GOP Vice Chair Evan Power.
In a media statement, Mr. Power implored Mr. Ziegler to resign sooner rather than later.
“Today the Republican Party of Florida took a step to hold our chairman accountable for his action,” Mr. Power said.
“We will follow through in removing him from power, but I implore Chairman Ziegler to do the right thing and resign,” he added.
More than a few of Florida’s Republican House and Senate leaders have all called for Mr. Ziegler’s resignation as well. Among the loudest voices are Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla), Sen. Marco Rubio (R- Fla), and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R- Fla).
Sarasota police are still reportedly investigating the rape accusation. According to authorities, the Zieglers and the woman making the accusation had planned a sexual rendezvous. For unknown reasons, Bridget Ziegler was unable to make it. The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her. Ms. Ziegler is an elected member of the Sarasota school board, though she is not accused of any crime, she has been asked to resign as well. So far, she has refused.
Mr. Ziegler’s attorney, Derek Byrd, asked everyone to hold off on passing judgment until after the police investigation is concluded.
“Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department,” Mr. Byrd said.
“Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded.”
The Epoch Times has contacted Mr. Ziegler’s attorney for further comment.
