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The leader of the Florida branch of the Republican Party has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman who he and his wife, co-founder of the “parent’s rights” organization Moms for Liberty, were allegedly involved in a consensual relationship with for an extended period of time.
Christian Ziegler is being investigated for accusations of sexual battery, as stated in a redacted report from the Sarasota Police Department obtained by The Independent.
The accusation does not mention Mr. Ziegler, but his lawyer Derek Byrd stated to The Independent that the prominent Republican figure and supporter of Governor Ron DeSantis is collaborating with the police inquiry and anticipates being cleared of any wrongdoing.
According to the investigative journalism site, the Florida Center for Government Accountability, the woman who filed the complaint had been in a consensual relationship with Mr. Ziegler and his wife Bridget for a long time. This news was first reported by the site.
According to information from law enforcement officials, the website reported that the event took place while Mr. Ziegler and the accuser were at the woman’s residence on October 2nd, without Ms. Ziegler being there.
The terms “rape” and “had been sexually assaulted on 10/02/2023” were some of the limited words that could be seen on the censored police report.
Police obtained a search warrant to seize Mr. Ziegler’s cellphone, which he allegedly used to record sexual encounters with the trio.
The pair are influential figures in the realm of Florida politics, and have both emphasized their dedication to “family values” during their campaigns for government positions. Mr. Ziegler has held a position within the GOP for many years and previously served as a commissioner in Sarasota County before being chosen as the state party’s chairman in February.
In 2021, Bridget Ziegler, a previous member of the school board, helped establish Moms For Liberty, an organization advocating for parental rights.
Initially, the conservative activists primarily targeted Covid lockdown policies, but now their agenda has broadened to include fighting against “gender ideology” and “critical race theory” in schools across the country.
Moms for Liberty led the charge in advocating for the approval of Florida’s “don’t say gay bill” and was labeled an “anti-government extremist” group by the Southern Poverty Law Center in June.
Earlier this year, Ms. Ziegler was personally endorsed by Mr. DeSantis for her position on the Sarasota school board. In addition, she was chosen by the governor to serve on the newly-established Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. This came after a disagreement with Disney, resulting in the revocation of their special district status.
The Independent made multiple attempts to contact Ms. Ziegler for comment through text and email, but she did not respond.
The chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried, has issued a statement demanding that Mr. Ziegler resign immediately due to the serious nature of the criminal accusations against him.
“As prominent figures within the Florida GOP and Moms for Liberty, the Zieglers consistently criticize anything that they view as contradictory to ‘family values,’ including issues such as reproductive rights and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in Florida. The level of hypocrisy displayed in this scenario is astounding.”
She commended the courage of the accuser in speaking out against someone as influential as Christian Ziegler.
Ms Fried stated that allegations of rape and sexual battery are serious and should not be taken lightly.
According to Mr. Byrd, the lawyer for Mr. Ziegler, he is certain that his client will not face any charges, as reported by The Independent.
“Unfortunately, it is common for public figures to face false accusations, whether motivated by politics or personal gain. I advise against making hasty judgments until the investigation is complete.”
Source: the-independent.com
