Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman, Christian Ziegler, will not be facing sexual battery charges. However, prosecutors are currently reviewing allegations of video voyeurism following a lengthy investigation, as stated by the Sarasota Police Department.
It all began with a sexual encounter between Ziegler and an anonymous woman on October 2. The woman later approached the police, accusing Ziegler of rape. Despite interviewing numerous individuals and scrutinizing surveillance footage, the Sarasota police concluded that there was insufficient probable cause to charge Ziegler with sexual battery.
Nevertheless, the police submitted a probable cause affidavit to prosecutors regarding video voyeurism. This felony charge is attributed to Ziegler allegedly recording the sexual encounter without the woman’s knowledge or consent, as revealed in a statement from the Sarasota Police Department.
Ziegler’s attorney, Derek Boyd, confidently claimed from the start that Ziegler would be proven innocent. Boyd accused the police of shifting responsibility to the prosecutors, specifically concerning the alleged unlawful videotaping of a sexual act. “We strongly believe that the state attorney will not prosecute Mr. Ziegler for any crime,” he asserted.
The investigation shook Florida Republican politics and resulted in Ziegler’s removal as chair, with Evan Power taking his place. Prominent figures, including Governor Ron DeSantis, urged Ziegler to resign, but he refused. Consequently, emergency meetings were held by the state Republican Party to limit his power before officially stripping him of his chairmanship earlier this month.
The repercussions of the investigation also extended to Ziegler’s wife, Bridget, a well-known presence in conservative circles as a co-founder of Moms for Liberty. Bridget faced criticism for her alleged hypocrisy, particularly regarding her focus on conservative policy issues, including supporting anti-LGBTQ laws. Bridget Ziegler resigned from her position as the vice president of school boards for the Leadership Institute and received multiple calls to step down from the Sarasota County School Board.
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This article was originally published on F5 Magazine.