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11 months ago
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The alleged rape victim of Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler told authorities he turned up at her home and assaulted her after she canceled plans to have sex with him and his wife, court documents show.
Sarasota police are investigating Christian Ziegler over allegations he raped a woman inside her home on October 2. Ziegler has denied the accusation.
The alleged victim, who claims she was in a 'consensual three-way sexual relationship' with the couple, told investigators she had made plans to have sex with Ziegler and his wife Bridget on October 2.
However, when Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler backed out the woman texted Christian 'Sorry I was mostly in for her,' according to the affidavit obtained by ABC News.
Later that evening the woman claims that as she went to leave her apartment she discovered Ziegler outside in the hallway - and alleges he then entered her property and raped her.
Chairman of the Florida Republican Party Christian Ziegler (left) is accused of rape by a woman who says she was in a three-way relationship with Ziegler and his wife Bridget Ziegler (right)
The alleged incident, now under investigation by Sarasota police, say happened when Christian and the unnamed accuser were alone in her home on October 2. Pictured: Christian and Bridget Ziegler with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (middle)
Together, the couple holds powerful influence in Florida GOP politics
Weeks later, detectives began to monitor calls and messages sent by Christian Ziegler to the accuser, according to the affidavit.
'Where r u? Wanna meet and chat? Worried about you. You are my friend,' Ziegler allegedly wrote in one message via Instagram.
'Hell no not after what you did to me,' the woman responded. 'Do you not understand I am terrified of you?'
A 911 call, obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, made by a friend of the alleged victim's reveals she confided in the friend about being raped.
'She told me she was raped,' the friend informed the dispatcher on October 4.
'She's saying she's scared, that the person who raped her came to her house, so she's scared to leave... I'm worried about her right now,' the friend explained.
Sources cited by the Florida Trident said a search warrant had been executed on Christian's cell phone and that authorities are in the process of conducting a forensic examination of the device.
The GOP heavyweight is also alleged to have secretly videotaped the sexual encounters between the couple and the woman.
Christian Ziegler was elected chairman of the Sunshine State's GOP in February. He formerly served as vice chairman of the state party. Before that he was a Sarasota County Commissioner.
Governor Ron DeSantis has now called on Mr Ziegler to step down from the party.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday the governor said: 'I don't see how he can continue, given the gravity of those situations and so I think that he should step aside. '
'He's innocent till proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.'
Bridget also works for the Leadership Institute, a conservative group that runs workshops and develops curriculums to train the next generation of conservative leaders
Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing parental rights group, and Sarasota County School board member
Bridget Ziegler is considered a rising star in the conservative movement. She previously received the personal endorsement of Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis for her school board seat. Pictured: Bridget with Casey DeSantis
In a statement posted to X, Moms for Liberty defended Bridget: 'Yet another attempt today to ruin the reputation of a strong woman fighting for America'
In 2014, Bridget was first elected to the Sarasota County School Board and was reelected in 2018. In August 2022, she was elected to a third term
Bridget is the co-founder of Mom for Liberty, a group founded in the wake of COVID-19 school policies that parents across the nation felt were unnecessarily impeding their children's development
Bridget Ziegler is considered a rising star in the conservative movement. She previously received the personal endorsement of DeSantis for her school board seat.
She has become well known in her own state and across the country as the co-founder of Mom for Liberty, a group founded in the wake of COVID-19 school policies that parents across the nation felt were unnecessarily impeding their children's development.
She helped establish the framework for what would become DeSantis' Parental Rights in Education Bill, which became known in the media as the 'Don't Say Gay' law.
No criminal charges have been filed in the case and Christian Ziegler's lawyer denied the allegations saying the chairman would be 'completely exonerated'.
Derek Byrd, said he is confident his client 'will be completely exonerated,' adding that he has 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,' he said.
'I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded. Out of respect for the investigation, this is all Mr. Ziegler or myself can say at this time.'
The GOP of Sarasota County, where the couple and their young family are based, issued a statement declaring their 'shock' and 'disappointment' in the reports.
'The Republican Party takes all such allegations of potential criminal conduct very seriously and will fully cooperate with investigators,' read the statement.
A representative for Ziegler did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
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