Florida GOP strips Ziegler’s authority, reduces salary amid sexual assault investigation
ORLANDO, Fla. – Republican Party of Florida Vice Chair Evan Power is urging Chair Christian Ziegler to step down following a Sunday meeting where the party voted to censure Ziegler amid an ongoing sexual assault investigation.
During the Dec. 17 special meeting, the party stripped Ziegler of his authority and reduced his salary to $1. Ziegler would also not be allowed to fundraise or speak on behalf of the Florida GOP.
Ziegler has maintained he is innocent and believes he will be exonerated once the investigation is complete.
Power previously called the special meeting to discuss potential actions after receiving enough support from members of the party’s state executive board.
The vice chair said the party “took a step to hold our Chairman [Ziegler] accountable for his actions.”
Following Sunday’s meeting, the party is expected to vote on Ziegler’s membership status Jan. 8 at a second special meeting.
Power told Florida’s Voice Monday he “implores” Ziegler to “do the right thing and resign” beforehand.
In order to kick Ziegler out of the party, a two-thirds vote would be needed.
“Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded,” Ziegler’s attorney previously said.
According to a search warrant for Ziegler’s telephone, police said the investigation revealed the victim and Ziegler have known each other for 20 years and they agreed to have a sexual encounter that included Ziegler’s wife, Bridget.
The victim claimed that on Oct. 2, Christian Ziegler sexually assaulted her, according to the search warrant.
Several other elected officials have also called for Ziegler’s resignation including Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast.
On Dec. 6, Ziegler’s wife Bridget reportedly resigned from her position at the Leadership Institute. Last week, the Sarasota County School Board approved a resolution 4-1 that asked her to voluntarily resign.
Bridget was elected to the school board representing District 1 for a four year term that began in November 2022.
The school board resolution said details from the law enforcement investigation “would cause an irreparably harmful distraction” to the school board’s ability to operate and supervise the county’s schools.
“It is not legally binding,” Chair Karen Rose said before making the motion to adopt the resolution. “It is me as the chair of this board holding myself accountable to our students in this community in instruction and learning.”
Florida’s Voice reached out to Ziegler for comment and will update this story if a response is received.
