Scandal

The editorial board of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes: He is chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, close to both Gov. Ron DeSantis and former president Donald Trump. She is a nationally known conservative culture warrior, a Sarasota County School Board member and a co-founder of the book-banning Moms for Liberty, which denounces all things LGBTQ. She is also …

The Daily Beast reports: Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler appears to have departed her role at the conservative Leadership Institute, which removed her name from its website in wake of a three-way sex scandal and criminal probe involving her husband. On Wednesday, political news website Florida’s Voice cited reports that Bridget Ziegler had stepped down. Ziegeler and the Leadership …

Florida Politics reports: If Republican Party of Florida Christian Ziegler doesn’t resign, executive members appear ready to expel him in 30 days. While bylaws for the state party don’t specifically allow for removal of a Chair, the party constitution contains provisions for establishing a tribunal to judge misconduct by a state officer. Republican Party of Florida Vice Chair Evan Power …

The Miami Herald reports: Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler found himself hanging on for his political life on Tuesday as calls mounted for him to resign from his post to face an active criminal investigation into a sexual assault allegation. The deluge of criticism from prominent Florida Republicans marked a change from recent days, when many of the party’s top …

“I said the other night when it came out, it’s, look, you’re innocent until proven guilty. There’s clearly things that are lodged against people that aren’t necessarily true. But I think when you have an investigation of crimes of this magnitude, I think that the mission has to come first. “It is not helpful to the mission to have this …

Florida Politics reports: The Republican Vice Chair said a conversation cannot wait until the next scheduled meeting in February. Republican Party of Florida Vice Chair Evan Power wants a special meeting to discuss state Chair Christian Ziegler’s future. In an email blast to the state party’s board members, Power said a special meeting needs to occur with Ziegler under criminal …

The Pennsylvania News-Item reports: The Northumberland County chapter of Moms for Liberty is on pause as it breaks from the national organization, according to chapter chair Clarissa Paige. Paige cited allegations of rape against Christian Ziegler, Florida’s GOP chairman and husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler [photo], as a reason for forming the Northumberland County Academic Alliance. Paige, …

Florida Politics reports: Add House Speaker Paul Renner to a growing list of officials calling for Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chair Christian Ziegler [photo] to step down in the wake of sexual assault allegations. Less than 24 hours after Senate President Kathleen Passidomo asserted that it is “impossible” for Ziegler to continue leading the state party, Renner issued a …

“We have a country to save and I’m not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission the bench while I wait for this process to wrap up. “From Congressmen, state elected leaders, prominent social conservative leaders and county party leaders, I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support that has been sent my way. It …

Tampa’s ABC affiliate reports: Ziegler and his wife — Sarasota School Board Member Bridget Ziegler who helped found Moms of Liberty — had made plans to have sex with the woman two days before, according to the affidavit. But when Ziegler’s wife could not make it at last minute, the other woman canceled responding in text message, “Sorry I was …

The Daily Beast reports: Tom Edwards is the Sarasota County School Board’s only openly gay member. And Bridget Ziegler did nothing as board chair during a public comment session back in March when a woman baselessly accused him of being a groomer who endangers children. “I asked her to shut down the meeting and she refused,” he recalled on Friday. …

The Florida Trident reports: The sexual battery investigation of Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler began with a 911 call from a friend of the alleged victim who was worried about her well-being, according to a recording of the call obtained by the Florida Trident. The 911 call, made on October 4 at 2:46 p.m., reveals the caller was concerned about …

From an opinion column in the Miami Herald: Wouldn’t it be ironic if the woman who led an ultra-conservative movement in Florida education that sought to put gays back in the closet was having a long-term, three-way lesbian relationship with a lover she shared with her husband, the state’s GOP chairman? That’s the allegation being made about Bridget Ziegler — …

CBS News reports: Florida Republican Party chair Christian Ziegler is being investigated by the Sarasota Police Department, Ziegler’s attorney, Derek Byrd, confirmed. Late Thursday night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on Ziegler to resign as state party chair. “I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing, given the gravity of those situations,” DeSantis told reporters. “And so …

Politico reports: Christian Ziegler, through his attorney, acknowledged the police were investigating him and said he’d been “fully cooperative with every request made” by the Sarasota Police Department. “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 …

AlterNet reports: The far-right Christian nationalist organization Moms for Liberty issued, then later deleted, a statement declaring support for its co-founder after her husband, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, was accused of sexual battery by a woman who allegedly has had a consensual “three-way sexual relationship” with the married couple. “The Sarasota Police Department is investigating a sexual …

The Florida Democratic Party writes: “Allegations of rape and sexual battery are severe and should be taken seriously,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried. “I applaud the accuser’s bravery in coming forward against a political figure as powerful as Christian Ziegler, and I trust that the Sarasota Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations of criminal behavior. “Christian …

The Florida Trident reports: Christian Ziegler, Florida’s GOP chairman and husband of Sarasota County School Board member and Moms of Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under criminal investigation after a woman filed a complaint with the Sarasota Police Department alleging the longtime Republican official had raped her, according to a heavily redacted police report obtained by the Florida Trident. The …

Miami’s CBS affiliate reports: Taxpayers will not be on the hook for a multi-million judgment against Commissioner Joe Carollo. Last June, a jury found him liable for violating the First Amendment rights of businessmen William Fuller and Martin Pinilla, the operators of a string of businesses along the Little Havana business corridor that includes the iconic Ball & Chain nightclub. …

The far-right Catholic LifeSiteNews reports: Michael Voris, founder and president of St. Michael’s Media and Church Militant, has resigned at the request of its board of directors, the Catholic media organization confirmed Tuesday afternoon. Reports of Voris’ ouster initially surfaced Tuesday morning. “We understand this is a shock to you all, but our founder and former CEO is stepping aside …