SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (SNN TV) – UPDATE: Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler to step down amid an ongoing criminal investigation into an accusation of sexual battery, saying that it would be untenable for Ziegler to stay as chair as he faces these allegations, according to the Washington Post.
“I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations, and so I think that he should step aside. I think he should tend to that,” DeSantis told reporters after his Thursday night debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. “He’s innocent till proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.”
The Sarasota Police Department is investigating Ziegler, chair of the Republican Party of Florida since February, but no charges have been filed.
Sarasota attorney Derek Byrd is representing Mr. Ziegler and issued this statement:
“We acknowledge the reports that there is an investigation being conducted by the Sarasota Police Department regarding Mr. Ziegler. 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. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded.”
The investigation was first reported by government watchdog Florida Center for Government Accountability(FCGA), which claimed a woman filed the sexual battery complaint in Sarasota against Ziegler.
The FCGA cited anonymous sources close to the investigation in its report, but WFLA could not confirm the allegations.
The early October incident report was almost completely redacted, including Ziegler’s name, and the nature of his involvement was not made immediately clear. No charges have been filed in the case. Ziegler is also a former Sarasota County Commissioner.
The report also mentions Ziegler’s wife, Bridget Ziegler, who is a Sarasota County School Board member and co-founder of Moms for Liberty, with which she is no longer involved. her role as chair of the school board ended Tuesday.
The Republican Party of Sarasota County sent SNN a statement saying:
“We are shocked and disappointed to hear of the reports concerning Republican Party of Florida Chair and Sarasota County State Committeeman Christian Ziegler, and his wife, Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler. The Republican Party takes all such allegations of potential criminal conduct very seriously and will fully cooperate with investigators.”
