Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler is under criminal investigation by the Sarasota Police Department over an accusation of sexual battery, confirmed Thursday.
According to a heavily redacted 13-page Sarasota Police report from Oct. 4, reviewed by the Washington Examiner, there is an “active criminal investigation.”
WISCONSIN EX-RACE CAR DRIVER COULD PLAY SPOILER TO GOP'S PLANS TO OUST TAMMY BALDWIN
The detective's report does not provide a name, but it states a person reported being “sexually battered" at home in Sarasota on Oct. 2. The report mentions a “sexual assault complaint” and "sexual assault allegation" but provides no further information.
All but four words were redacted from the investigation statement, which clarified an officer responded at 2:48 p.m. Oct. 4. The words included “raped … stated … stated that … raped.”
The Florida Trident, published by The Florida Center for Government Accountability, first reported Ziegler was under investigation, and the report was made public shortly after. The Republican chairman is married to Moms for Liberty co-founder and Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler.
“Bridget was an original founder of Moms for Liberty but she stepped back from the organization’s board in 2021," Moms for Liberty co-founders Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. "We have learned long ago to not believe everything we read online, and we are confident she will get to tell her side of things to those who are interested in more than click bait."
The couple has ties to former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who appointed Bridget Ziegler to the state board that oversees Disney's Orlando theme parks in March.
DeSantis’s team did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
The Florida Trident reported that sources close to the investigation alleged that the woman who accused the GOP chairman of rape was in a “long-standing consensual three-way sexual relationship prior to the incident" with both Zieglers.
Ziegler's attorney, Derek Byrd, said in a statement that he is confident the Florida Republican chairman will be “completely exonerated.”
"We acknowledge the reports that there is an investigation being conducted by the Sarasota Police Department regarding Mr. Ziegler," Byrd said, per multiple media outlets. "Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department. We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated.
"Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain," Byrd added. "I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded."
In the wake of the alleged sexual assault report being released, the Florida Democratic Party called on Ziegler to resign immediately.
“Allegations of rape and sexual battery are severe and should be taken seriously,” FDP Chairwoman Nikki Fried said in a statement. “I applaud the accuser’s bravery in coming forward against a political figure as powerful as Christian Ziegler, and I trust that the Sarasota Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations of criminal behavior. Christian Ziegler can’t possibly continue to lead the Florida GOP under these conditions. Given the severity of the criminal allegations, I’m calling for his immediate resignation.”
Fried added that she finds it "interesting that two people who are so obsessed with banning books about gay penguins might be engaged in a non-traditional sexual relationship.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“As leaders in the Florida GOP and Moms for Liberty, the Zieglers have made a habit out of attacking anything they perceive as going against ‘family values’ — be it reproductive rights or the existence of LGBTQ+ Floridians," Fried said. "The level of hypocrisy in this situation is stunning."
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Florida GOP for comment.