Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler, accused of rape, removed from job in overwhelming vote

The Republican Party of Florida voted overwhelmingly Monday to remove Christian Ziegler as chair in the wake of a rape allegation that has sparked a police investigation.

Ziegler's removal caps a tumultuous period for Florida Republicans that saw two of their top figures engulfed in scandal after the investigation became public on Nov. 30.

Ziegler was accused of rape by a woman who said she previously had a consensual three-way sexual encounter with the GOP leader and his wife, Sarasota County School Board member and Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, according to search warrant affidavits.

The Zieglers were a Florida GOP power couple before the sex scandal upended their political careers. They were leading advocates for Gov. Ron DeSantis' culture war agenda, particularly around LGBTQ issues in schools. Bridget Ziegler campaigned with DeSantis during their 2022 re-election bids and was with the governor when he signed legislation derided by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Christian Ziegler has maintained his innocence and refused to step down, prompting his forced removal. The Sarasota County School board passed a resolution Dec. 12 officially calling on Bridget Ziegler to resign, which she refused to do.

The rape allegation and the details it unearthed has roiled the Florida GOP as it tries to gear up for the 2024 election, with Gov. Ron DeSantis and every other statewide elected official calling on Ziegler to step down as Florida GOP chair. He has been replaced with Vice Chair Evan Power.

More: The Ziegler sex scandal timeline

Who is Christian Ziegler?

Christian Ziegler has been working to advance conservative ideals for more than a decade.

Ziegler was elected GOP state committeeman for Sarasota County in 2012 and ran for Florida GOP chair in 2016 but lost to the incumbent. In 2018 Ziegler was elected to the Sarasota County Commission and became vice-chair of the Florida GOP before winning the chairman seat this year.

He has been a supporter of both DeSantis and former president Donald Trump. He attended the Trump rally in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, but did not participate in the Capitol riot that followed.

Christian Ziegler also is being investigated for video voyeurism after recording the Oct. 2 sexual encounter, which he says was consensual.

Christian Ziegler accused of sexual battery

A woman accused Christian Ziegler of sexual battery after a planned threesome with Bridget, Christian and the victim fell through, according to police records.

The police investigation is ongoing and Ziegler hasn't been charged with any crimes, but Florida GOP officials say that even if he doesn't face charges, the conduct revealed in the police affidavits raises moral issues that make him unfit to lead the party.

Bridget Ziegler confirmed in police interviews that the three of them had a sexual encounter in the past.

"The victim and Christian Ziegler agreed to have a sexual encounter that included Christian's wife Bridget Ziegler," according to the affidavit.

When Christian Ziegler told the victim he would be coming alone, she responded "'Sorry I was mostly in for her' referring to Bridget," according to the affidavit.

Records show that he showed up at the victim's apartment anyways on Oct. 2. The victim said that once inside, he sexually assaulted her. No charges have been filed against Christian Ziegler.

He said the encounter was consensual. "Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department," Ziegler's attorney, Derek Byrd, said in a statement. "We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated."

Who is Bridget Ziegler?

Bridget Ziegler, was appointed to the Sarasota County School Board by former republican governor Rick Scott in 2014 before winning a four-year term later that year. For years, she was one of few conservatives on the board.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she advocated to drop mask mandates and banded with other conservative Florida school board members to form the national right-wing activist group Moms for Liberty.

Moms for Liberty calls itself nonpartisan, but aims to advance the conservative "parental rights" movement. The organization has been involved in getting conservatives on school boards and passing book bans and policies that restrict transgender rights.

Critics have called Moms for Liberty positions bigoted, homophobic, and racist fear-mongering. In June this year, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled the group extremist and anti-government.

Ziegler stood behind DeSantis when he signed the "Don't Say Gay" law.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christian Ziegler: Florida GOP chairman ousted after rape claim