Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said state Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler should resign while police investigate a rape allegation against him. Ziegler hasn’t been charged, but the investigation comes as the 2024 election heats up. DeSantis is running for president, and the state GOP is working to reelect U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Florida was also key to Republicans winning a slim majority in the U.S. House in 2022, and the party will be defending the newly won seats.
Quick Read
- Investigation of Rape Allegation: Christian Ziegler, the chair of the Florida Republican Party, is under police investigation for a rape allegation, although he has not been charged.
- Political Context: The investigation comes at a crucial time politically, as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is running for president in 2024. The Florida GOP is also focused on reelecting U.S. Senator Rick Scott and defending seats that contributed to the Republicans’ slim majority in the U.S. House in 2022.
- DeSantis’ Statement: Governor DeSantis, acknowledging Ziegler’s presumption of innocence, expressed that the gravity of the allegations makes it untenable for Ziegler to continue as party chair. This statement came after DeSantis appeared with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Fox News.
- DeSantis and Ziegler Relationship: DeSantis revealed that he and Ziegler, along with Ziegler’s wife Bridget, have been friends. However, he emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of the party’s mission over individual roles.
- Ziegler’s Attorney’s Response: Ziegler’s attorney has stated that Ziegler will be exonerated but declined to discuss the case further.
- Details of the Police Report: The police report concerning the rape allegation was filed on October 4, relating to an incident that occurred two days earlier in a private home.
- Ziegler’s Role in the GOP: Christian Ziegler assumed leadership of the Florida Republican Party in February, following DeSantis’ landslide reelection. Florida was a key state for the Republican Party in the recent national elections.
- Ziegler Family’s Political Influence: The Zieglers are a prominent Republican couple in Sarasota. Bridget Ziegler is known for her role on the county school board and as a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a group advocating conservative values in public schools.
- DeSantis and Disney Conflict: Governor DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to a state board overseeing development on Disney World property, following a dispute with Disney over LGBTQ rights in public schools.
The Associated Press has the story:
DeSantis says Florida GOP chair should resign amid rape allegation
Newslooks- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said state Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler should resign while police investigate a rape allegation against him.
Ziegler hasn’t been charged, but the investigation comes as the 2024 election heats up. DeSantis is running for president, and the state GOP is working to reelect U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Florida was also key to Republicans winning a slim majority in the U.S. House in 2022, and the party will be defending the newly won seats.
“He’s innocent till proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny,” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday night after appearing with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Fox News, according to a transcript provided by the DeSantis campaign. “The mission is more important.”
DeSantis said Ziegler and his wife Bridget, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, have been friends, but the allegations are too serious for Ziegler to stay in the position. He said he wasn’t aware of the investigation until news reports on Thursday. The Florida Center for Governmental Accountability was the first to report on the investigation.
Ziegler’s attorney has said he will be exonerated, but otherwise wouldn’t discuss the case.
The police report was filed Oct. 4 about an incident two days earlier in a private home.
Ziegler took over the party in February, three months after DeSantis was reelected in a landslide in an election where Florida was one of the few bright spots for Republicans nationally.
The Zieglers are a Republican power couple in Sarasota. Bridget Ziegler is on the county school board and has received national attention for her work with Moms for Liberty, a group that promotes a conservative agenda for public schools on issues like civil and LGBTQ rights and teaching about the experience of marginalized communities.
DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to a state-created board to oversee development on Disney World property. DeSantis stripped Disney of its ability to self-governor and created the board amid a feud that began when the entertainment company opposed his effort to ban instruction on LGBTQ topics in public schools.
