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The Republican Celebration of Florida suspended Chairman Christian Ziegler and demanded his resignation for the duration of an emergency conference Sunday, including to phone calls by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top rated officials for him to step down as law enforcement look into a rape accusation in opposition to him.
Ziegler is accused of raping a girl with whom he and his spouse, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, experienced a prior consensual sexual partnership, according to law enforcement documents.
“Christian Ziegler has engaged in carry out that renders him unfit for the office,” the party’s motion to censure Ziegler mentioned, according to a doc posted on the social media platform X by Lee County GOP Chairman Michael Thomason.
Ziegler tried using to defend himself all through the shut-doorway meeting, but the get together board promptly took the action against him, Thompson mentioned.
“Ziegler on cleaning soap box striving to protect himself, not functioning,” Thompson posted in advance of confirming the votes.
The party’s government committee will hold an additional vote in the foreseeable future on whether or not to get rid of Ziegler.
The Sarasota Police Department is investigating the woman’s accusation that Ziegler raped her at her condominium in Oct. Law enforcement paperwork say the Zieglers and the girl experienced prepared a sexual threesome that working day, but Bridget Ziegler was not able to make it. The accuser claims Christian Ziegler arrived in any case and assaulted her.
Christian Ziegler has not been billed with a criminal offense and suggests he is harmless, contending the come across was consensual.
The accusation also has triggered turmoil for Bridget Ziegler, an elected member of the Sarasota School Board, nevertheless she is not accused of any crime. On Tuesday the board voted to check with her to resign. She refused.
The pair have been outspoken opponents of LGBTQ+ rights, and their romantic relationship with an additional woman has sparked criticism and accusations of hypocrisy.
In addition to DeSantis, Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and Florida’s Republican Residence and Senate leaders have all named for Christian Ziegler’s resignation.
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