Florida GOP strips chair Christian Ziegler of power and pay amid rape allegation, sex scandal
Ziegler denies the rape accusation but admits to other sexual conduct the Florida GOP says 'renders him unfit for the office'
![Protesters call for Bridget Ziegler's resignation from Sarasota, Florida, school board](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VzC89jwimUKCs2vU228dGE-415-80.jpg)
The Republican Party of Florida's executive committee voted unanimously Sunday to strip party chair Christian Ziegler of most of his responsibilities and all but $1 of his $124,000 compensation after he refused to step down amid a rape allegation and the acknowledged extramarital sexual activity it uncovered. The executive committee censured Ziegler for engaging in "conduct that renders him unfit for the office," and scheduled a Jan. 8 meeting in Tallahassee to decide his fate.
Ziegler "cannot morally lead the Republican Party forward," vice chair Evan Power said after Sunday's tense emergency meeting in Orlando. Power, who will temporarily assume most of the chair's duties, said if Ziegler doesn't resign before the Jan. 8 meeting, the party will remove him then. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other top Florida Republicans have called for Ziegler to step aside for the good of the GOP.
Police in Sarasota are investigating an allegation that Ziegler raped an unidentified woman on Oct. 2. Ziegler, 40, maintains that the sex — originally proposed to include his wife, Bridget Ziegler, according to court documents — was consensual. Ziegler, his wife and the woman all acknowledged they had a three-way sexual encounter a year ago. The rape investigation is ongoing and Ziegler has not been charged with a crime.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bridget Ziegler, a cofounder of the conservative group Moms for Liberty and a member of the Sarasota County School Board and the DeSantis-appointed Disney World district oversight board, has also faced reputation fallout from the scandal. She was the lone vote last week against a 4-1 school board motion that called for her to resign.
Moms for Liberty said earlier this month that Bridget Ziegler left the group nearly three years ago, though she participated in a media training session for the organization at its national conference last summer, The New York Times reported. "Never apologize. Ever," she told Moms for Liberty members facing public outrage over a local chapter quoting Adolf Hitler in a newsletter. "I think apologizing makes you look weak." The chapter, the Times noted, "eventually apologized."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Red Speedo: a 'darkly comic' doping drama
The Week Recommends Lucas Hnath's play stars Finn Cole as a 'reptilian' swimmer determined to win at all costs
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One Aldwych: where London's creative spirit takes centre stage
The Week Recommends This five-star Covent Garden hotel is the epitome of elegant independence
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The GOP is Donald Trump Jr.'s party now
In The Spotlight The former president's gun-loving, live-streaming adult son has emerged as more than just his father's namesake — he's become a Republican powerhouse of his own
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Was Teamster boss' RNC speech a watershed moment for unions or betrayal of labor?
In The Spotlight Sean O'Brien pushed bipartisanship at one of the most partisan events of the year, but not everyone is on board with his unexpected political outreach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published