By Matt Dixon
A leader of the Republican Party of Florida is calling for an emergency meeting to consider how to handle rape allegations that surfaced last week against the party’s chairman, Christian Ziegler, who has so far refused to resign amid increasing pressure and a police investigation.
“It is with a heavy heart I write this email to you,” wrote Florida GOP Vice Chairman Evan Power in an email sent to party leaders Monday night. “Over the last few days we have seen the news and have received calls from the press about the situation with our Chairman.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis is among Republican leaders who have called on Ziegler to resign, a list that also includes Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, each of whom said Ziegler should step aside.
“I don’t see how we can continue with that investigation ongoing, given the gravity of those situations. I think he should step aside,” DeSantis said last week after a debate with California Gov.
Gavin Newsom. “I think he should tend to that.”
DeSantis is joined by both Florida Republican legislative leaders, an increasing number of rank-and-file members of the Legislature and former party officials.
“Electing Republicans goes beyond personalities. No one person should stand in the way of making sure Florida has the best chance to choose the next President,” former Florida GOP executive director Mike Grissom told NBC News. “Christian should step aside.”
Along with the presidential race, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott is up for re-election in 2024.
Scott told NBC News the allegations are “very disturbing.”
“I’m very concerned about the reports I’ve read. The allegations are very disturbing. Everyone deserves their day in court and Christian and Bridget have been friends of mine throughout my career,” Scott said. “The Party has a very important decision before it, and the decision has to be made on what is best for winning elections in 2024. I don’t see how Christian can continue to successfully act as Chairman while this cloud hovers over him. I’m praying for everyone involved in this.”
At the center of the allegations, according to a search warrant affidavit first obtained by the nonpartisan Florida Center for Government Accountability and shared with NBC News, are that on Oct. 2, Christian and his wife, Bridget, planned to have a consensual sexual encounter with a woman they had known for 20 years.
Sarasota police have not confirmed or denied the authenticity of the affidavit, which has been widely reported. Ziegler’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
The police did release a heavily redacted 13-page report on the Ziegler investigation last week that includes mention of “rape” and “had been sexual battered … on 10/02/2023.”
The woman tried to cancel once Bridget decided not to come, but Christian Ziegler was seen on tape arriving at the alleged victim’s apartment, and he was “standing outside in the hallway” when she opened the door to walk her dog.
Christian Ziegler, according to the search warrant affidavit, then entered her apartment and raped her on a bar stool.
During the investigation Ziegler then contacted the woman on social media where she said she was “not okay” with what happened.
