Florida GOP chairman — husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder — accused of rape
1 year ago

Florida GOP chairman — husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder — accused of rape

Salon  

This story has been updated to reflect details from affidavits recently made public. Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler is currently under investigation by the Sarasota Police Department, his attorney Derek Byrd confirmed to CBS News. The Florida Trident, a nonprofit organization focusing on government accountability, reported that a woman, Christian Ziegler and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, engaged "in a three-way sexual encounter more than a year before the incident," citing a search warrant publicly released in the case Friday. Byrd said Christian Ziegler "has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department," adding that once the police department finishes its probe, he is "confident" they won't file charges and that "Ziegler will be completely exonerated." "Christian Ziegler can't possibly continue to lead the Florida GOP under these conditions," Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said.

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History of this topic

Moms for Liberty founder sent Florida GOP chair to bars prowling for hookups: police docs
7 months ago

Moms for Liberty founder sent Florida GOP chair to bars prowling for hookups: police docs

Raw Story  

Bridget Ziegler, the founder of the far-right, anti-gay Moms for Liberty group, sent out her husband, Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler, to bars to find women to bring home for sex, police documents reveal. According to The Daily Beast, "Text messages quoted in a Sarasota Police Department memo that was obtained by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune revealed how Ziegler sent her …

Ousted Florida Republican chair cleared of rape allegation, but police seek video voyeurism charge
11 months ago

Ousted Florida Republican chair cleared of rape allegation, but police seek video voyeurism charge

Associated Press  

Police cleared the ousted chair of the Florida Republican Party of rape allegations on Friday, but said they have asked prosecutors to charge him with illegally video recording the sexual encounter he had with a female acquaintance. The Sarasota Police Department said in a statement that a review of a cellphone video Christian Ziegler made of the Oct. 2 encounter …

Florida Republicans oust state party chairman facing rape allegations in critical election year
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Florida Republicans oust state party chairman facing rape allegations in critical election year

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican Party of Florida ousted Chairman Christian Ziegler and elected his replacement in a special vote on Monday as police investigate a rape accusation against him. A vast majority of about 200 Florida GOP members approved the ouster in a voice vote during a closed-door meeting that Ziegler did not attend, according to Republican state Sen. …

Florida Republicans oust state party chairman facing rape allegations
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Florida Republicans oust state party chairman facing rape allegations

LA Times  

The Republican Party of Florida ousted Chairman Christian Ziegler in a special vote on Monday as police investigate a rape accusation against him — a move that came a week before Gov. “Florida’s one of the most important states for the Republicans and we have to continue to bring home victories, especially for Rick Scott and the top of the …

Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler faces resignation demands amid rape allegations
1 year ago

Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler faces resignation demands amid rape allegations

Hindustan Times  

Christian Ziegler, the chairman of the Florida Republican party, is facing mounting pressure to resign from his position amid a rape allegation and a censure motion from his own party. Governor Ron DeSantis, senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, Congressman Matt Gaetz, and other Republican officials have joined the chorus of voices calling for Christian to step down as the …

"Deeply awkward": Florida GOP cuts salary of chairman refusing to resign over rape claim to $1
1 year ago

"Deeply awkward": Florida GOP cuts salary of chairman refusing to resign over rape claim to $1

Salon  

The Florida Republican Party voted on Sunday to strip Chairman Christian Ziegler of his legislative power and sharply curb his salary to a mere $1 following the emergence of rape allegations earlier this month. Politico reported that 39 executive board members from Florida's GOP gathered at a hotel in Orlando on Sunday, observing that they were irate that Ziegler, who …

Florida Republican chair suspended amid rape allegations — but Trump is still good to go
1 year ago

Florida Republican chair suspended amid rape allegations — but Trump is still good to go

Raw Story  

The Associated Press reported Sunday that Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler has been suspended after an emergency meeting of top GOP leaders over the weekend. Ziegler was accused of sexual battery at the end of November, but the state Republican leaders remained largely quiet until last week when news spread about the allegations. The woman alleges that Ziegler and …

Florida Republican Party suspends chairman and demands his resignation amid rape investigation
1 year ago

Florida Republican Party suspends chairman and demands his resignation amid rape investigation

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican Party of Florida suspended Chairman Christian Ziegler and demanded his resignation during an emergency meeting Sunday, adding to calls by Gov. Ziegler is accused of raping a woman with whom he and his wife, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, had a prior consensual sexual relationship, according to police records. “Christian Ziegler has engaged in …

State GOP leaders furious with Florida Republican who refuses to leave office: report
1 year ago

State GOP leaders furious with Florida Republican who refuses to leave office: report

Raw Story  

Any chance that Florida GOP chair Christian Ziegler may get a severance package as state Republican Party leaders push for his ouster due to his threesome sex scandal can be put to rest based upon comments from the people who control his fate. In interviews with the Daily Beast's Kate Briquelet, one GOP insider launched into a furious rant accusing …

Scandal-hit GOPer demands huge payout to resign as Florida party chair: report
1 year ago

Scandal-hit GOPer demands huge payout to resign as Florida party chair: report

Raw Story  

Christian Ziegler is reportedly seeking a massive payout to resign as chair of Florida's Republican Party. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott and other leading Republicans in the state have called for him to step down in the wake of a rape investigation involving a woman with whom he and his wife – Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler – had …

Florida school board moves to oust embattled Moms for Liberty co-founder over sex scandal
1 year ago

Florida school board moves to oust embattled Moms for Liberty co-founder over sex scandal

Raw Story  

The co-founder of the anti-LGBTQ Moms for Liberty group could soon be ousted from a Florida school board over a sexual assault investigation into her husband. The Sarasota County School Board will vote Tuesday on a resolution asking her to resign, because the panel cannot directly remove her, and chairwoman Karen Rose said she was "shocked and deeply saddened" by …

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

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

Associated Press  

SARASOTA, Fla. — A Florida school board voted on Tuesday to recommend the resignation of one of its members because she is embroiled in the fallout of a sexual assault investigation into her husband, the Republican Party state chairman. The resolution was authored by board Chair Karen Rose, who said in an email that she is “shocked and deeply saddened” …

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

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

LA Times  

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 …

FL GOP officials to meet in 12 days to decide the fate of besieged Christan Ziegler
1 year ago

FL GOP officials to meet in 12 days to decide the fate of besieged Christan Ziegler

Raw Story  

A tsunami is building against Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler, who remains under investigation over alleged sexual battery against a woman in Sarasota in October. The majority of the GOP executive board has called a special meeting for Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando to consider “discussion and appropriate actions for …

Sen. Scott joins DeSantis in calling for resignation of state GOP chair amid rape investigation
1 year ago

Sen. Scott joins DeSantis in calling for resignation of state GOP chair amid rape investigation

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican Party of Florida chairman is facing mounting pressure to resign as police investigate a rape allegation, with Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott joining Gov. “I don’t see how Christian can continue to successfully act as chairman while this cloud hovers over him.” The allegation comes as Scott is being challenged by former Democratic Rep. Debbie …

Florida Republican chairman won’t resign over rape allegation, saying he is innocent
1 year ago

Florida Republican chairman won’t resign over rape allegation, saying he is innocent

Associated Press  

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The chair of Florida’s Republican Party says he will not resign over a woman’s allegation that he raped her, saying in an email to supporters that he is innocent. Christian Ziegler sent the statement to state Republicans on Saturday, saying that he and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, are being targeted because they are “such loud political …

Florida’s Republican chair has denied a woman’s rape allegation in a case roiling state politics
1 year ago

Florida’s Republican chair has denied a woman’s rape allegation in a case roiling state politics

Associated Press  

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The head of the Florida Republican Party, whose wife is a founder of one of the nation’s most prominent conservative groups, has been accused of rape, leading Gov. Police search warrant affidavits obtained by Florida news organizations show that a woman who had been friends with Christian Ziegler for 20 years has accused him of raping …

Florida Republican chairman refuses to resign over rape allegation, saying he is innocent
1 year ago

Florida Republican chairman refuses to resign over rape allegation, saying he is innocent

LA Times  

Republican Party of Florida chairman Christian Ziegler, left, greets former President Trump at the RPOF Freedom Summit on Nov. 4 in Kissimmee, Fla. Ziegler is the subject of a rape investigation, though no charges have been filed and police are providing little information on the accusation. The police affidavits saying that the Zieglers had group sex with a woman have …

DeSantis says Florida GOP chair should resign amid rape allegation
1 year ago

DeSantis says Florida GOP chair should resign amid rape allegation

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said state Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler should resign while police investigate a rape allegation against him. “He’s innocent till proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny,” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday night after appearing with California Gov. “The mission is more important.” DeSantis …

The Christian Ziegler/Moms for Liberty scandal could hurt Ron DeSantis
1 year ago

The Christian Ziegler/Moms for Liberty scandal could hurt Ron DeSantis

Raw Story  

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to distance himself from Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler and his wife Bridget, the co-founder of Moms for Liberty—but his close involvement with them could spell trouble for him. In February, during DeSantis' fight with Disney, he appointed Bridget Ziegler to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a new board overseeing Disney's theme parks in …

Moms for Liberty deletes statement boosting co-founder whose husband is accused of battery
1 year ago

Moms for Liberty deletes statement boosting co-founder whose husband is accused of battery

Raw Story  

The far-right Christian nationalist organization Moms for Liberty issued, then later deleted, a statement declaring support for its co-founder after her husband, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, was accused of sexual battery by a woman who allegedly has had a consensual “three-way sexual relationship” with the married couple. “The alleged sexual battery occurred inside the woman’s home in …

Florida’s GOP chairman is a subject in a rape investigation
1 year ago

Florida’s GOP chairman is a subject in a rape investigation

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The chairman of Florida’s Republican Party is the subject of a rape investigation, though no charges have been filed and his lawyer said he will be exonerated. Still, the investigation into Christian Ziegler comes at a critical time for the Republican Party of Florida: Two Florida Republicans — former President Donald Trump and Gov. “I applaud the …

Fl. GOP chair and husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder accused of sexual battery: report
1 year ago

Fl. GOP chair and husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder accused of sexual battery: report

Raw Story  

Florida’s GOP chairman has been accused of sexual battery by a woman who says she was part of a ménage à trois with him and his wife, who's a co-founder of right-wing group Moms for Liberty, according to a new report. The woman says she partook in a consensual threesome with Christian Ziegler and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, sources told …

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