Florida school board recommends ouster of Moms for Liberty co-founder over Republican sex scandal

The Sarasota County School Board cannot directly remove Bridget Ziegler from the panel but voted 4-1 for her to step down. The resolution was authored by board Chair Karen Rose, who said in an email that she is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the rape allegations involving Ziegler’s husband, Christian Ziegler, and the couple’s admissions about previously having a three-way sexual encounter with the accuser. Prior to the meeting, several dozen people marched outside chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, Bridget Ziegler has got to go.” Some carried signs saying “Ban Bridget, not books” and “Real women aren’t homophobes.” “Bridget Ziegler must apologize and resign,” said Carol Lerner of Support Our Schools, a nonprofit group that supports public education. In a recent message to Florida Republicans, he said he would remain as chair “because we have a country to save and I am not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission on the bench as I wait for this process to wrap up.” Christian Ziegler’s lawyer, Derek Byrd, said in an email Monday that he is “hoping investigation is closed soon.” A Sarasota Police Department spokesperson said there is no timetable for the probe to conclude. “The level of hypocrisy in this situation is stunning.” The state GOP has called a meeting for Sunday in Orlando to discuss Christian Ziegler’s future as party chair.