Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler Faces Calls to Resign Amid Rape Allegations

Ziegler, under investigation for alleged rape, reportedly seeks up to $2 million buyout to resign, sparking outrage within the party.

Christian Ziegler, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, is under investigation for allegedly raping a woman with whom he and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, had previously had a three-way sexual encounter. Ziegler denies the allegations and claims the encounter was consensual.
Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of the conservative group Moms for Liberty and a member of the Sarasota County School Board, is also facing calls to resign. Although not part of the criminal investigation, she has been accused of hypocrisy due to her anti-LGBTQ+ stance and the revelation of the threesome.
Christian Ziegler has reportedly asked for a buyout of up to $2 million to resign from his position as Florida GOP chair. This has been met with outrage from party members, with many stating there will be no payout.
Prominent Florida politicians, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, have called for Christian Ziegler's resignation. However, Ziegler has refused to step down, stating that he is innocent until proven guilty.
The Republican Party of Florida is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss potential disciplinary actions against Christian Ziegler, which could include stripping him of his salary and reducing his role in the party.