Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler addresses attendees on the Republican Get together of Florida Freedom Summit on the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee.
Paul Hennessy | Lightrocket | Getty Pictures
The Republican Get together of Florida on Monday eliminated Christian Ziegler as its chairman as he faces allegations of rape and video voyeurism.
The vote, which got here throughout an emergency assembly in Tallahassee, was largely anticipated after the Sarasota Police Division’s rape investigation into him grew to become public final month. The get together chosen Evan Energy, its former vice chairman, to function the brand new chairman. Energy had the help of most distinguished Florida Republicans, together with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Ziegler was not in attendance for the vote.
“Congratulations to our new Chairman, @EvanPower,” the get together posted on X. “Beneath his sturdy management, we’ll Preserve Florida RED, ship Florida’s 30 electoral votes to the GOP presidential candidate, and elect Republicans up and down the poll. Let’s get to work!”
4 sources within the room stated that there have been only a few individuals who expressed help for Ziegler remaining as chair, thought it is unclear the precise quantity as a result of it was a voice vote.
“I consider it was virtually unanimous vote to take away Christian Ziegler, which I consider is absolutely the proper factor to do,” a supply instructed NBC Information. “And I wish to reiterate that we’re spending plenty of time and power on this, on this assembly as a substitute of specializing in the issues we have to deal with, and that is just because Christian Ziegler didn’t do the correct factor and resign.”
Ziegler is dealing with allegations, which have been first reported by the Florida Middle for Authorities Accountability, that he raped a Sarasota girl he and his spouse, Bridget, had identified for 20 years and with whom that they had had previous sexual encounters.
Earlier than an early October encounter, Bridget stated she couldn’t attend and the lady canceled. Christian, nevertheless, nonetheless confirmed up at her house and raped her, based on courtroom information.
Ziegler has maintained his innocence and refused to step down as Florida GOP chair, which prompted Monday’s emergency assembly.
Energy, the brand new chairman, misplaced his race towards Ziegler throughout the 2023 race, however in current weeks the get together’s greatest names endorsed him to take over. The one different candidate was Republican Nationwide Committeeman Peter Faeman.
Together with rape allegations, the Sarasota County Police Division expanded its investigation final week into whether or not Ziegler illegally filmed a sexual encounter with the lady, based on a search warrant affidavit a choose authorized Dec. 8 that sought entry to Ziegler’s social media messages.
The lady instructed police, based on the affidavit, that she didn’t consent to Christian Ziegler recording the encounter.
The investigation has gotten nationwide consideration as a result of each Christian and Bridget are distinguished Florida Republicans. Bridget is a co-founder of Mothers for Liberty, a nationwide group that tries to get conservative ladies elected to native faculty boards.
Bridget is just not accused of any authorized wrongdoing, however she has confronted critics who say she is a hypocrite for specializing in conservative coverage points that in lots of instances heart on passing anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines.
Most notably, Bridget has publicly taken credit score for serving to write a DeSantis-championed invoice that prevented the dialogue of gender id or sexual desire in lecture rooms as much as third grade. Supporters stated it was about empowering mother and father, whereas opponents dubbed it the “do not say homosexual” invoice.
