Florida’s Republican Party chairman is the focus of a rape investigation, but no charges have been brought, and his lawyer is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Regardless, the probe into Christian Ziegler comes at a crucial juncture for the Republican Party of Florida. With Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis seeking higher office, and the state GOP aiming to reelect U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, the party faces a pivotal moment. Florida played a major role in Republicans securing a slim majority in the U.S. House in 2022, and now they must defend their newly won seats.
The Florida Center for Government Accountability was the first to publicly disclose the investigation into Ziegler, who is married to Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler. The Sarasota Police Department provided a heavily redacted incident report in response to requests for documents related to the investigation, which includes mentions of rape and sexual assault, but does not reveal Ziegler’s involvement.
“Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department,” stated his lawyer, Derek Byrd. “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 police report was filed on Oct. 4 regarding an incident two days earlier in a private home.
Democrats were swift to politicize the investigation. “I applaud the accuser’s bravery in coming forward against a political figure as powerful as Christian Ziegler,” said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried. “Ziegler can’t possibly continue to lead the Florida GOP under these conditions.”
Ziegler assumed leadership of the party in February, following DeSantis’s resounding re-election victory. Ziegler and his wife, Bridget, are a prominent Republican power couple. Bridget Ziegler serves on the Sarasota County School Board and has gained national recognition for her involvement in Moms for Liberty, a group that advocates for a conservative agenda in public schools.
Ron DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to a state-created board to oversee development on Disney World property. DeSantis established the board after a dispute with Disney, triggered by the company’s opposition to his attempt to ban LGBTQ-related instruction in public schools.
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AP Writer Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Florida, contributed to this report.
