The ousted former chair of the Republican Get together of Florida will not face a video voyeurism charge for recording a sexual come across with a woman who accused him of rape, a situation in which he was also not charged, prosecutors explained Wednesday.
The woman built inconsistent statements about no matter whether or not she consented to the video manufactured by Christian Ziegler throughout the Oct encounter at her house, prosecutors mentioned in a memo. A criminal offense could be dedicated if there was enough evidence the movie was manufactured without the need of her information and consent.
The woman informed investigators that “she could have consented to the video clip staying taken — she is merely unable to recall just one way or the other,” the memo claimed.
Ziegler taken care of his innocence all through the investigation, his attorney Derek Byrd explained in an e-mail.
“Mr. Ziegler is relieved to be entirely cleared of the phony allegations and any criminal wrongdoing. We cooperated at just about every phase of investigation and as tricky as it was, we remained peaceful out of regard for the investigation,” Byrd mentioned.
Ziegler, 40, earlier admitted owning sexual intercourse with the woman but insisted it was consensual. Court docket documents present that his spouse, Bridget Ziegler, told detectives the 3 had engaged in sex the moment more than a calendar year ago. Law enforcement stated Bridget Ziegler backed out of the current prepared face but that her husband went to the accuser’s apartment on your own.
Bridget Ziegler is a notable conservative who co-established the Mothers for Liberty group and is also an elected member of the Sarasota County school board. She was also appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the board that now oversees Walt Disney World’s land improvement.
The controversy led the condition Republican Occasion to remove Ziegler as chair in January. There have also been initiatives in Sarasota to pressure Bridget Ziegler from the university board, but she has refused to resign.
