Republican Party of Florida Chair’s Fate Unresolved Amid Police Probe The head of the Republican Party of Florida, Christian Ziegler, faces potential removal on December 17th as GOP officials gather in Orlando to determine his future. This follows a rape accusation by a woman against him and an investigation by the Sarasota Police Department.
The woman alleges that Ziegler had forced his way into her home and had sex with her when she was not in a position to consent due to drinking. The depth of the relationship between Ziegler and the woman continues to be a topic of debate, as the woman claimed that Ziegler’s wife had also been involved in sexual relations with them in the past.
Despite the search warrant for investigating his digital devices and cloud storage, the former Sarasota County commissioner has not been charged with a crime. Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Rick Scott are calling for Ziegler’s resignation due to the serious nature of the allegations against him.
Ziegler’s long-time ally, Rep. Vern Buchanan, has also called for the RPOF Chair’s resignation despite their long history together. GOP officials are hesitant to believe that Ziegler is likely to step down, especially given his previous statements dismissing the notion of apologizing as a sign of weakness.
Meanwhile, Ziegler’s wife Bridget, a member of the Sarasota County School Board, is under pressure to resign too. Initially, she refused to step down, saying the ceremonial resolution has “no teeth.”
The governor is the only one with the power to remove her from office under law. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) did not offer a comment on her situation.
The SCSB meeting to discuss Mrs. Ziegler’s resignation saw support from Sarasota residents eager to see her removed from her position due to the ‘distractions’ she has caused. Mrs. Ziegler’s involvement with Moms For Liberty, a group known for being critical of the LGBT community, has further deepened the controversy surrounding her.
This has created political tensions within Florida’s Republican Party, causing some uncertainty about the fate of Christian Ziegler. Though he is facing pressure from GOP officials and the public in relation to the police probe, the Republican Party remains divided over whether he should continue as its chairman.
