Criminal investigation Roils Republican Party in Florida
The Republican Party of Florida was in turmoil Thursday after police said they were investigating an allegation made two months ago that the party’s chairman was guilty of sexual assault.
The chairman, Christian Ziegler, was elected to the post this year because top Republicans in Florida were concerned about whether to back Governor Ron DeSantis or former President Donald J. Trump for their party’s 2024 nomination. Ziegler was seen as the choice of Mr. Trump’s allies.
No charges have been filed against Mr. Ziegler, who denied wrongdoing through his attorney, Derek Byrd.
“We are confident that once the police investigation is complete, no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be fully exonerated,” Mr. Byrd said in a statement. Mr. Ziegler responded to a request for comment by sending the same statement from his attorney.
Details about the allegation were scarce, but a Sarasota police spokeswoman confirmed an “active investigation” involving Mr. Ziegler.
In response to requests for the sexual battery incident report, police on Oct. 4 released a heavily redacted 12-page document with names, addresses, identifying information and most other details blacked out. Unredacted in the report are two mentions of the word “raped” and a reference to someone who reported being “sexually assaulted” at home on October 2.
Mr. Byrd said his client, who lives in Sarasota and was a former Sarasota County commissioner, has “cooperated fully” with police.
“We are shocked and disappointed to learn of the reports” about Mr. Ziegler, the Sarasota County Republican Party said in a statement. “The Republican Party takes all such allegations of possible criminal conduct very seriously and will cooperate fully with investigators.”
The Democratic Party of Florida called on Mr. Ziegler to resign as chairman of the Republican Party.
“Christian Ziegler cannot possibly continue to lead the Republican Party in Florida under these circumstances,” Democratic Party Chairman Nikki Fried said in a statement.
The research was first reported by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, which describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization.
Mr. Ziegler’s wife, Bridget Ziegler, is an elected member of the Sarasota County School Board and founder of the right-wing national group Moms for Liberty, although she is no longer one of the organization’s officers.
The Zieglers are considered a powerful political couple in Florida, especially in the Sarasota area, which has become a hotbed of conservative activism since the end of the Trump administration. Moms for Liberty worked closely with Mr. DeSantis last year.
Once a hotly contested swing state, Florida now votes more reliably Republican.
Alexandra Berzon reporting contributed.