Florida’s Republican Party has officially ousted its embattled former chairman Christian Ziegler amid rape allegations.
During an emergency meeting Monday, the party voted to elevate Evan Power, who previously served as vice chairman, to replace Ziegler.
“Congratulations to our new Chairman, @EvanPower. Under his strong leadership, we will Keep Florida RED, deliver Florida’s 30 electoral votes to GOP presidential candidates, and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Let’s go to work!” the state writes on X.
Power has shouldered many of Ziegler’s duties after the party reduced the former chairman’s responsibilities last month amid the controversy. He launched his bid for the chairmanship last month.
Ziegler had previously defeated Power in last year’s battle to become the chairman of the Florida GOP and assumed the post in February of last year.
In November, reports revealed that Ziegler was under criminal investigation by the Sarasota Police Department.
A woman, who claims to have known Ziegler and his wife for two decades, accused him of raping her a month earlier inside his Sarasota home on Oct. 2. 2023.
The Florida Republican Party has ousted former chairman Christian Ziegler after he was accused of rape. Dave Decker/Shutterstock
Ziegler has pleaded not guilty and insists that his actions were consensual. At this time, he has not been charged with a crime.
The incident has gained national attention in part because his wife Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, which works to elect conservative mothers to school boards.
He was not accused of wrongdoing in the matter.
However, she has admitted that she, her husband, and the alleged victim previously had a three-way relationship about a year earlier, Politico reported.
The co-founder of Moms for Liberty has taken a victory lap for helping create the controversial Parents’ Rights in Education Act, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, which limited classroom instruction about gender identity until third grade.
Recently, the Sarasota County Police Department began investigating whether Christian Ziegler illegally recorded the alleged encounter, NBC reported.
Christian Ziegler has been under increasing pressure for weeks to step down amid the scandal.
Ziegler’s wife, Bridget Ziegler is the co-founder of Moms For Liberty. Mike Lang/Sarasota Herald-Tribune via AP, File A woman accused Ziegler of raping her inside his Sarasota home on Oct. 2. 2023. SOPA Images
Prominent Florida Republicans such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Rep. Matt Gaetz, as well as Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have called on him to step down.
Bridget Ziegler has faced similar pressures in her role on the Sarasota School Board.
The Post reached out to the Republican Party of Florida for comment.
Christian Ziegler’s ouster comes as Republicans in Michigan voted over the weekend to oust chairwoman Kristina Karamo because of lackluster fundraising numbers.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
