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Christian Ziegler (politician)

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Christian Ziegler
Ziegler in 2018
Chair of the Florida Republican Party
In office
February 12, 2023 – January 8, 2024
Duties stripped December 17, 2023*
Preceded byJoe Gruters
Succeeded byEvan Power
Personal details
Born1983 (age 40–41)
North Georgia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBridget Ziegler
EducationFlorida State University (BA)
*All duties were delegated to Evan Power.

Christian Michael Ziegler (born 1983) is an American politician from Florida. He was the chairman of the Florida Republican Party from February 12, 2023, to January 8, 2024, when he was removed from office by the party.[1]

Early life and career

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Ziegler was born in North Georgia,[2] outside of Atlanta in May 1983. He graduated from Florida State University in 2005[3] and worked for Vern Buchanan's campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2006 elections. After Buchanan won his seat, Ziegler worked for him as a legislative aide.[4]

In 2012, Ziegler ran for a position on the Republican Party of Florida's state committee, representing Sarasota County.[4] He ran for chairman of the state party in 2017,[5] but lost the election to incumbent Blaise Ingoglia.[6] In November 2018, he was elected to the county commission of Sarasota County.[7] In early 2019, he was endorsed by Corey Lewandowski for the vice-chairmanship of the state Republican party.[8] Ziegler occupied that office from 2019 to 2023.[9] On January 6, 2021, Ziegler attended the "Save America" rally that preceded the attack on the United States Capitol.[10] Ziegler did not run for re-election to the county commission in 2022.[7] He was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in February 2023.[11]

Personal life

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Ziegler's wife, Bridget Anne (née McGrath), co-founded Moms for Liberty and serves on the Sarasota County School Board. The board's controversial actions have drawn criticism in the community.[12] Seeking to rise quickly in state politics, Ziegler sought association with visible supporters of Donald Trump in Florida Republican circles, such as the likes of strong Trump advocates Joe Gruters and Rick Scott,[13] and the Zieglers have been featured in news stories as friends of Ron DeSantis,[14] DeSantis appointed Bridget to the board overseeing the Florida district taken away from Disney and Trump praised Christian at a rally in November 2023.[14] The Zieglers have also been closely associated with "The Hollow" — a far-right educational facility in Sarasota County that teaches bible studies and assault rifle shooting skills to its students.[15]

Allegations of sexual assault

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Sarasota police initiated an investigation into Christian Ziegler following an accusation of rape and sexual assault made against him[16] in October 2023 by a woman who took part in a threesome a year prior with both Christian and his wife Bridget.[17][14][18][19] When questioned, Bridget Ziegler admitted to being involved in the threesome sexual relationship including her husband and the woman as noted in the police report.[16] In the report, the woman filing the complaint said that the Zieglers asked to have a threesome that day and plans were being made, but it got too late for Bridget to attend and because her interest in participation with Bridget was her main motivation, the complainant had cancelled the plan. Christian showed up alone, nonetheless, and that encounter resulted in the sexual assault complaint.

The 911 tape that led to the investigation was released, with the 911 caller reporting that she wanted a wellness check on the victim who she described as a friend. The 911 caller stated that she was worried about the victim who had said she was raped and was afraid to leave the house and stated that she could not go on.[20][21]

According to a police report, Christian Ziegler admitted taking part in the sex act, as well as recording it secretly, which would be prosecutable if the alleged victim had not consented to such filming.[17] Ziegler claimed to be innocent of the charge of assault and declared the report as an "attack" against him, and said that he was the victim being targeted. In a subsequent telephone call, it was revealed he had tried to apologize to the woman filing the rape claim, offered her money to resolve the issue, and reassured her that Bridget would be joining them for any subsequent ménage à trois.[16] By January 8, 2024, the investigation had been expanded to include the retrieved video recording, as video voyeurism.[22]

On January 19, 2024 the Sarasota Police Department announced they would not charge Ziegler with sexual assault, but would seek to charge him with video voyeurism. [23][24][25] Additional details were revealed during examination of digital records and the investigation was turned over to the office of the State Attorney for review.[26]

On March 6, 2024 the state attorney's office in Sarasota announced it would not pursue criminal charges against Ziegler due to insufficient evidence.[27]

Suspension and removal from office

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Due to the allegations, every statewide elected official and the state legislature's presiding officers (all Republicans) called on Ziegler to resign, but he refused.[28] On December 17, 2023, the executive committee of the Florida Republican Party met in Orlando and censured Ziegler,[29] stripped him of his duties (delegating them to the vice-chairman, Evan Power), lowered his annual salary to $1, and scheduled an emergency meeting in Tallahassee for January 8, 2024 for the full party to vote on his removal if he did not resign before then.[30]

Ziegler was removed as chairman of the Florida Republican Party on January 8, 2024, by a vote of 199-3. He did not appear for the vote. Evan Power was selected to replace him.[31][32]. He offered to resign if the GOP paid him $1 Million as a golden parachutte.

Lawsuit to suppress public records

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Following a request for public documents related to the investigation, on May 17, 2024, both of the Zieglers were in court when he sued that the public records from the investigation of Christian be withheld, even asking that the public records be destroyed because details were "humiliating".[33] One record mentioned during the hearing by a clerk describing the public records, referred to a text document in which Bridget crudely advised her husband not to return without success from a regular expedition to local bars with the intent to identify women and take photographs secretly of them so both Zieglers could determine the ones to approach in order to recruit them as partners in their threesome escapades: "don't come home until your dick is wet".[34]

References

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  1. ^ Ogles, Jacob (January 8, 2024). "Christian Ziegler out as Florida GOP Chair". Florida Politics.
  2. ^ Perry, Mitch (February 18, 2023). "Christian Ziegler elected as new chair of the Republican Party of Florida". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Perry, Mitch (February 15, 2023). "Florida's major political parties to choose new leaders". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Anderson, Zac (November 26, 2016). "Entwined in politics, Christian Ziegler seeks state position". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  5. ^ Wallace, Jeremy (November 17, 2016). "Sarasota Republican challenges RPOF chairman for post". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Anderson, Zac (January 14, 2017). "Sarasota's Ziegler falls short in bid to lead Florida GOP". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Hackney, Rachel Brown (July 8, 2022). "With Christian Ziegler choosing not to seek re-election to County Commission, three Democrats and two Republicans will vie to replace him". Sarasota News Leader. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Ogles, Jacob (January 6, 2019). "Corey Lewandowski weighs in on Florida GOP Vice Chair race". Florida Politics. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Perry, Mitch (February 18, 2023). "Christian Ziegler Elected as New Chair of the Republican Party of Florida". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Henning, Allyson (January 7, 2021). "Sarasota County commissioner reacts to chaos at U.S. Capitol after attending D.C. rally during work trip". WFLA-TV. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Florida Republicans Pick Christian Ziegler as State Chair". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. February 18, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Craig, Tim (May 6, 2022). "As community veers right, political division tears apart Sarasota, Fla". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Ogles, Jacob, The Fall of the House of Ziegler: Moms for Liberty, a threesome, and a failed political dynasty, Advocate, April 3, 2024
  14. ^ a b c Norman, Bob (November 30, 2023). "Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler, husband of Moms For Liberty cofounder, accused of sexual battery by alleged ménage à trois lover". The Bradenton Times. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Smith, Michelle R. (October 18, 2022). "How Michael Flynn goes local to spread Christian nationalism". Associated Press. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Norman, Bob (December 4, 2023). "Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler has claimed he's been falsely accused, but judge and police found probable cause he committed sexual battery". The Florida Trident. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  17. ^ a b GOP chair Ziegler’s rape investigation now includes video voyeurism, affidavit shows, Sun Sentinel, Skyler Swisher, January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  18. ^ Anderson, Zac (November 30, 2023). "Florida GOP chair accused of sexual battery; attorney says he'll be exonerated". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Norman, Bob (November 30, 2023). "Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler, husband of Moms For Liberty cofounder, accused of sexual assault by alleged menage a trois lover". Florida Center for Government Accountability. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  20. ^ Alfred, Kate Briquelet (December 2, 2023). "911 Call and Affidavit Reveal Chilling Claims in Florida GOP Chair Rape Probe". Daily Beast. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Wendling, Mike (December 1, 2023). "Top Florida Republican official faces sexual assault investigation". BBC News. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  22. ^ Rosza, Lori (January 9, 2024). "Florida GOP Ousts Chairman under Investigation for Alleged Rape". The Washington Post. Vol. 147, no. 53725. p. C2. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  23. ^ "Former Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler won't be charged with rape". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Ogles, Jacob (January 19, 2024). "Sarasota Police forward video voyeurism charge for Christian Ziegler, won't pursue rape charge". Florida Politics.
  25. ^ Striepling, Bailey (February 2, 2024). "Christian Ziegler's search history, text messages revealed in new documents". MSN. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  26. ^ Barfield, Michael, While touting “family values” agenda, the Zieglers were on the “hunt” for threesome partners, police report reveals, Florida Center for Governmental Accountability, WGCU PBS-NPR for Southwest Florida, February 1, 2024
  27. ^ Leonard, Kimberly (March 6, 2024). "Ex-Florida GOP Chair Ziegler won't face criminal charges". Politico.
  28. ^ Ogles, Jacob (December 15, 2023). "Marco Rubio joins call for Christian Ziegler to resign or be forced out as Florida GOP Chair". floridapolitics.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  29. ^ Warfield, Andrew, State GOP leaders unanimously vote to censure Christian Ziegler, Sarasota News, Sarasota Observer, December 18, 2023
  30. ^ Adelson, Eric; Mazzei, Patricia (December 18, 2023). "Florida Republicans Strip Powers of Embattled Party Chairman". The New York Times. Vol. 173, no. 60006. p. A12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  31. ^ Farrington, Brendan (January 8, 2024). "Florida Republicans oust state party chairman facing rape allegations in critical election year". Associated Press.
  32. ^ Ogles, Jacob (January 8, 2024). "Christian Ziegler out as Florida GOP Chair". Florida Politics.
  33. ^ Norman, Bob, Sex, barflies, and videotape: Report details how GOP power couple prowled pubs for threesome partners, The Bradenton Times, May 16, 2024 secret photographs taken by him to send from bars to her for evaluation as ones both woud like and her admonishment to him "don't come home until your dick is wet"
  34. ^ Walker, Steven, 'On the prowl': Christian, Bridget Ziegler texts show couple's search for sexual partners, Sarasota Herald Tribune, May 17, 2024; "don't come home until your dick is wet"
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Florida Republican Party
2023–2024 		Succeeded by
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