Florida Republican Party suspends chairman and calls for his resignation amid rape investigation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Republican Party of Florida suspended Chairman Christian Ziegler and demanded his resignation throughout an emergency assembly Sunday, including to calls by Gov. Ron DeSantis and different high officers for him to step down as police examine a rape accusation towards him.

Ziegler is accused of raping a lady with whom he and his spouse, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, had a previous consensual sexual relationship, in response to police data.

“Christian Ziegler has engaged in conduct that renders him unfit for the office,” the social gathering’s movement to censure Ziegler mentioned, in response to a doc posted on the social media platform X by Lee County GOP Chairman Michael Thomason.

Ziegler tried to defend himself throughout the closed-door assembly, however the social gathering board shortly took the motion towards him, Thompson mentioned.

“Ziegler on soap box trying to defend himself, not working,” Thompson posted earlier than confirming the votes.

The social gathering’s govt committee will maintain one other vote sooner or later on whether or not to take away Ziegler.

The Sarasota Police Department is investigating the lady’s accusation that Ziegler raped her at her condominium in October. Police paperwork say the Zieglers and the lady had deliberate a sexual threesome that day, however Bridget Ziegler was unable to make it. The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her.

Christian Ziegler has not been charged with against the law and says he’s harmless, contending the encounter was consensual.

The accusation additionally has brought about turmoil for Bridget Ziegler, an elected member of the Sarasota School Board, although she will not be accused of any crime. On Tuesday the board voted to ask her to resign. She refused.

The couple have been outspoken opponents of LGBTQ+ rights, and their relationship with one other lady has sparked criticism and accusations of hypocrisy.

In addition to DeSantis, Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Florida’s Republican House and Senate leaders have all known as for Christian Ziegler‘s resignation.