Florida GOP punishes Moms for Liberty co-founder’s husband over rape allegations

The Florida Republican Party has voted to eject chair Christian Ziegler, the husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler. A majority of 200 state Republicans voted to oust and replace him in a special Monday vote as police continue to investigate accusations that he raped a woman that he and his wife used to have threesomes with.

“We’re spending a lot of time and energy on this meeting instead of focusing on the things we need to focus on and that’s simply because Christian Ziegler did not do the right thing and resign,” State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R), one of the Republicans who voted to oust Christian Ziegler, told the Associated Press. “There’s been some harm done to the Republican Party of Florida.”

Related:

Florida GOP stops selling mug that quotes alleged rapist condemning LGBTQ+ “perverts”

The alleged rapist whose wife co-founded an anti-LGBTQ+ extremist group warned people to “Stand with parents, not perverts.”

Near the end of December 2023, the Florida Republican Party voted unanimously to censure Christian Ziegler and strip him of authority as the party’s chair amid the rape investigation. Florida’s rabidly anti-LGBTQ+ Gov. Ron DeSantis had publicly said that Christian Ziegler should resign, saying, “We just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.”

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State Sen. Joe Gruters (R), who was voted to replace Mr. Ziegler as the state Republican party chair, said, “Florida’s one of the most important states for the Republicans and we have to continue to bring home victories.”

The couple’s former threesome partner filed a complaint with police on October 4, 2023, alleging that she was sexually assaulted in her home by Christian Ziegler on October 2. Sources close to the investigation said that the woman had a sexual relationship with both of the Zieglers for the past three years. Bridget Ziegler was not present when the alleged sexual assault occurred.

Bridget Ziegler has admitted to having threesomes with the woman and has been roundly criticized since her organization, Moms for Liberty, opposes LGBTQ+ content in public schools and equal rights.

A police affidavit stated the accuser’s allegations that she and 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. The victim also reportedly told police she was intoxicated after having been drinking tequila all day, emphasizing she was unable to consent. He may have also committed the crime of “video voyeurism” by recording their sexual encounter without the woman’s consent.

Bridget Ziegler was quietly removed as the director of the School Board Leadership Program at the Leadership Institute, an organization that trains conservative activists. The Sarasota School Board also voted unanimously for her to resign, but she has refused thus far.

No charges have been filed in the case yet.