Christian Ziegler Suspended By FL GOP Amidst Rape Investigation

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — The Republican Party of Florida took the first steps to remove chairman Christian Ziegler, who is being investigated for rape in Sarasota, from his position during an emergency meeting Sunday.

In a 39-0 vote, the party’s executive committee suspended and stripped him of all authority, though he still retains the title of chair, and reduced his salary to $1 annually.

The GOP leader is accused of raping a woman who he and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, a Moms for Liberty co-founder and Sarasota County School Board member, previously had a consensual, three-way sexual encounter with. The couple has known the victim for more than 20 years.

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“Christian Ziegler has engaged in conduct that renders him unfit for the office,” the party’s motion to censure Ziegler said, according to a document posted on the social media platform X by Lee County GOP Chairman Michael Thomason.

“As a result of such conduct and actions, Christian Ziegler has injured the good name of the Republican Party of Florida, disturbed its well-being and hampered the organization in performing its mission to support the principles, objectives, and values of the Republican Party and secure the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates,” the motion read.

Additionally, Christian “has not been forthright and honest” with state Republicans and “the Executive Board has lost confidence in … (his) ability to effectively lead” the party.

During the closed-door meeting, Ziegler was “on (a) soap box trying to defend himself” which was “not working,” Thompson posted to X before the votes to censure him were confirmed.
The party’s executive committee will hold another vote in the future on whether to remove Ziegler.

Since he was accused of rape, there have been calls from both sides of the aisle for his resignation, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. He has maintained his innocence and refused to step down.

There have also been calls for his wife to resign from the school board, which she’s also refused to do. Bridget Ziegler previously stepped down from her role as vice president of school board leadership for the Sarasota-based Leadership Institute, a nonprofit that trains conservative activists.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.