Florida GOP Censures Chair Christian Ziegler and Revokes His Authority Amid Ongoing Sexual Assault Investigation

The leadership of the Republican Party in Florida voted to censure Chairman Christian Ziegler and strip him of his authority as he undergoes an investigation for sexual assault. In a closed-door emergency meeting in Orlando, they also decreased Ziegler's salary to $1 per year. Ziegler will no longer have the power to hire or fire staff, represent the Florida GOP, or raise funds for the party, although he will retain his title as chairman.

The leadership unanimously voted against conducting a special investigation into Ziegler, despite pressure from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, and Rep. Matt Gaetz for him to resign. Ziegler did not speak to the media following the meeting, and CNN has requested comment from him.

Christian Ziegler, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, speaks to the audience at the Freedom Summit in Kissimmee, Florida on Saturday, November 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP/FILE

Florida GOP chair under investigation related to sexual battery allegation

The Sarasota Police Department has been investigating the chairman since October. According to a search warrant affidavit obtained by CNN from the Florida Center for Government Accountability, the chairman and his wife had planned a three-way sexual encounter with the alleged victim on the day of the alleged assault on October 2. However, when the victim learned that his wife was unable to make it, she changed her mind and canceled with the chairman. The affidavit also states that the Zieglers had a previous consensual sexual relationship with the accuser. Surveillance footage showed the chairman arriving at the alleged victim's residence on the day of the alleged assault. The victim reported that the chairman entered the apartment and raped her on a bar stool.

Ziegler, who has not faced any criminal charges, claims that the sexual encounter was consensual. His attorney, Derek Byrd, stated in a CNN interview that they are optimistic about his exoneration once the police investigation wraps up. According to Michael Thompson, chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee, Ziegler spent the early part of the meeting on Sunday defending his position as chair to his colleagues.

Thompson reported that after the vote, the individual apologized for the situation he had put everyone in. He expressed regret for the shame it brought upon himself, his family, and the community, and conveyed his remorse. Thompson emphasized that he is not a malicious individual, but rather someone who made a foolish mistake and is now facing the consequences.

Jack Brill, the chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, described the situation as a somber day for all of Florida.

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Ziegler declined to resign once the investigation became public, and also asserted to CNN that the claims of him seeking a large payout before leaving his position were completely false. Florida GOP Vice Chairman Evan Power stated that he anticipates the entire committee will formally oust Ziegler during a meeting in Tallahassee on January 8.

Ziegler and his wife are influential Florida Republicans who have gained statewide prominence under DeSantis, after starting in local politics in Sarasota County. Ziegler, aged 40, was named chair of the Florida GOP in February, following years in local politics and leadership roles. His wife, Bridget Ziegler, 41, has been a member of the Sarasota County School Board since 2014, winning reelection three times. Despite a recent non-binding request for her resignation from the school board, she has not expressed any intention to step down.

Bridget Ziegler has been a prominent figure in the cultural conflicts led by DeSantis in Florida's public schools. She is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a conservative organization advocating for parental rights, and has been instrumental in efforts to remove books deemed inappropriate for children from classrooms in Florida and other locations. Additionally, DeSantis appointed her to the board overseeing the Walt Disney Company's special taxing district in Central Florida, during a tense period of conflict between the state and the entertainment giant regarding legislation on the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.