Moms for Liberty in chaos as a chapter defects amid rape allegation against co-founder’s husband

Chaos has begun to reign on anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Moms for Liberty (M4L) amidst a rape allegation against the husband of the organization’s co-founder, Bridget Ziegler, along with Ziegler’s admission that she engaged in a same-sex sexual encounter.

In the wake of the police investigation into an alleged sexual assault perpetrated by Christian Ziegler, a Pennsylvania chapter of M4L has announced it is splitting from the national organization. Clarissa Paige, chair of the Northumberland County chapter, is planning to turn the local group into the Northumberland County Academic Alliance.

Related:

Moms for Liberty hires convicted child sex abuser to handle religious outreach

He was indicted for having oral and anal sex with a 14-year-old boy.

“It’s hard to advocate for parental rights when the co-founder is caught up in the scandal,” Paige told The News-Item. “Our values are not aligning with the national organization.”

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Paige made it clear that the Northumberland County Academic Alliance will continue to advocate for “parental rights,” a right-wing euphemism for the movement to ban LGBTQ+ content from schools, as well as books and lessons about the history of racism in the U.S.

Nevertheless, Paige claimed the group is “not against the LGBTQ community.”

“Whatever happens in the bedroom is not my business,” she said, “but students should not feel uncomfortable using the same bathrooms. That agenda should not be pushed within the school districts.”

The woman who has accused Christian Ziegler of rape told investigators that she and both of the Zieglers had planned a sexual encounter for October 2. But when Bridget Ziegler was no longer available, the woman canceled, saying, “I was mostly in for her.”

She then alleges that Christian Ziegler was waiting in the hallway outside her apartment when she opened the door to walk her dog. She says he came inside and sexually assaulted her. The affidavit says, “The victim advised Christian did not wear a condom, and he stated, ‘I’m leaving the same way I came in.’”

Christian Ziegler – who has been captured on surveillance footage at the woman’s apartment – has admitted to having sex with her but claims it was consensual.

Bridget Ziegler also admitted to detectives that she, her husband, and her husband’s accuser were involved in a consensual sexual encounter over a year ago.

Christian Ziegler has been a leader in the Florida Republican party for years, and Bridget Ziegler found political success more recently with help from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who endorsed her when she ran for Sarasota school board and named her to the board that oversees Disney World’s special district, which was part of an act of vengeance against Disney for opposing his state’s Don’t Say Gay law.

Harvard Law Cyberlaw Clinic instructor Alejandra Caraballo noted that Moms for Liberty is an organization that paved the way for Florida’s Don’t Say Gay law, among other things. She called out the “level of hypocrisy” in light of the allegations.

Many on social media have also called out Bridget Ziegler for the hypocrisy.

The hypocrisy of Moms for Liberty co-founder and chair of the Sarasota County School board Bridget Ziegler is astounding and serves as a metaphor for the decline of the organization. She owes all Florida teachers and students an apology. ✊🏽🇺🇸🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/N9AfvgX5eU

— Brandt Robinson (@BrandtRobinson) December 4, 2023

If you wrote this into the plot of your book, you'd be accused of being too predictable.

But truly, someone should do a reality tv show on the hypocrisy of conservatives. https://t.co/1VNoEG5rwV

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) December 2, 2023

Christian Ziegler and co-founder of Moms for Liberty, Bridget Ziegler, keeping the nuclear Christian family values alive and well. pic.twitter.com/2sRtUnXdiP

— September 💙🌈🌒🌕🌘🌈💙 (@Lippyaddiction) December 4, 2023

Even DeSantis has called on Christian Ziegler to resign in the wake of the allegations.

“I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations,” he told the press. “And so I think he should step aside. I think he should tend to that.”

He added, “I hope the charges aren’t true. I’ve known him, I’ve known Bridget, they’ve been friends. But the mission is more important.”

But in an email to the Florida GOP, Christian Ziegler made it clear he would not be resigning. “We have a country to save and I am not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission on the bench as I want for this process to wrap up,” he wrote.