Anne Geggis
Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried is calling for her counterpart in the Florida GOP to resign after allegations surfaced that he sexually assaulted a partner with whom he and his wife had an ongoing ménage à trois.
The Trident, a publication of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, first reported Thursday that Christian Ziegler was under Sarasota police investigation for sexual battery.
The accusation reportedly comes from a woman who had been in a long-term tryst with Ziegler and his wife, Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler.
“Christian Ziegler can’t possibly continue to lead the Florida GOP under these conditions,” Fried said in a statement soon after the controversy burst into full view. “Given the severity of the criminal allegations, I’m calling for his immediate resignation.”
Ziegler’s lawyer has denied the accusation, saying his client will be fully exonerated. An official statement from the Republican Party acknowledged the controversy but declined to say anything further due to the pending investigation.
Fried, however, was quick to highlight how the party that Christian Ziegler leads has been at the forefront of passing anti-LGBTQ laws and how his wife co-founded a group, Moms for Liberty, that has promulgated removing books from school shelves throughout the state for sexual content and, in some cases, topics related to the LGBTQ community.
“The level of hypocrisy in this situation is stunning.” Fried said.
The Zieglers have been one of the most visible Republican power couples, strongly supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey DeSantis.
As Christian Ziegler became the state GOP chair, his wife was appointed to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which replaced the board that had control over the former Reedy Creek Special District.
Christian Ziegler has led Republicans in Florida as the party continues overtaking Democrats in voter registration numbers.
Before DeSantis appointed her to the CFTOD, Bridget Ziegler was one of three women who started Moms for Liberty in 2021. Calling themselves a parental rights group, they started their movement railing against COVID-19 masking restrictions. The group’s later focus turned to what they called “indoctrination” in schools involving LGBTQ issues. They had the Governor’s ear in targeting School Board members they thought should be ousted and drafting the Parental Rights in Education Law, which critics dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
In two years, Moms for Liberty has grown to 285 chapters with more than 100,000 members in 45 states, according to The Hill.
Moms for Liberty adherents have turned School Board meetings into political theater with members reading sexually explicit passages from books found on school shelves. Among the casualties: “And Tango Makes Three,” a book based on the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who adopted a chick together. Critics say it has same-sex relationship overtones.
Fried said she’s not about to say anything about three-ways.
“What happens behind closed doors is Christian and Bridget’s personal business,” Fried said. “That being said, I do find it interesting that two people who are so obsessed with banning books about gay penguins might be engaged in a non-traditional sexual relationship.”
She said the allegations should be taken seriously and not just because they are against a leader of the other team.
“I applaud the accuser’s bravery in coming forward against a political figure as powerful as Christian Ziegler,” Fried said.
15 comments
Impeach Biden
November 30, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Those are nothing more than allegations Nikki. Shouldn’t we wait to see if they are in fact true? Just calm down my little Drama Queen. You still are insignificant.
Earl Pitts "Political Scientist Emeritus" American
November 30, 2023 at 5:48 pm
Sage Wisdom my Besty, “Impeach Biden”.
Thank you, EPA
Earl Pitts "Political Scientist Emeritus" American
November 30, 2023 at 5:45 pm
Good evening America,
“Yap Yap Nip Nip” …. what in The Wide World of Sports is all that annoying commotion America?
Oh yeah that’s just that little ankle biter Nikki Weed just a-yapping and a-nipping at yet another Great American Patriot’s ankles trying her best to be “relevant”
Just ignore her, America, and “RELAX YOUR SPHINCTER’S” Nikki’s all noise with no substance whatsoever.
You are welcome, America, Earl Pitts American.
My Take
November 30, 2023 at 6:04 pm
Republican Moms for Licentiousness
My Take
November 30, 2023 at 6:04 pm
Is she even a mom?
Susan Stroud
November 30, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Ah, but did he pay Russian hookers to pee on a bed the Obamas slept in?
Isn’t this page out of the leftist dirty tricks playbook getting worn?
My Take
November 30, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Nothing is below today’s Republicans.
Didn’t they even proudly call themselves “Teabaggers”?
Larry Gillis, Libertarian (Cape Coral)
November 30, 2023 at 6:20 pm
“OFF WITH HIS HEAD”:
These knee-jerk demands for immediate resignations are routine now. How about we look for some evidence first or some sort of judicial finding?
How about an indictment first? (At least with an indictment, a body of citizens has found probable cause after some sort of informal hearing without the technical rules of evidence).
Ocean Joe
November 30, 2023 at 7:55 pm
Agreed that we should presume innocence if charges are brought, but it’s like the preacher, his wife and the pool boy…it just fits a pattern. Or the CPAC guy, or Sen. Gruters, etc.
The pious, especially those who rant about the LGB folks, always seem to hide the darkest secrets. As long as all three were consenting adults it matters not to me, but the preaching about morality from these guys gets old.
Those of us who oppose the MAGA mentality smell blood in the water so indulge us.
PeterH
November 30, 2023 at 7:50 pm
The assignment of Bridget Ziegler to the Oversight Board needs a review.
A three way lesbian sexual affair? Mom’s for Liberty….. give me a break!
Republicans are America’s worst enemy!
Vote all Republicans out of office!
George
November 30, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Moms for Threesomes!
Lex
December 1, 2023 at 8:07 am
Everyone deserves an opportunity to rebut an allegation, but if it is true Zeigler should resign. Wow, wish any Democrat would say something similar about a Democrat. All people can lie. All serious allegations should be investigated. Once you have information from all sides you make a decision. I’m not sure why we have enough information now to ask Zeigler to resign, but not enough to ask Biden to resign. One is a “he said, she said”, the other has plenty of hard evidence like laptops, emails, phone records, bank records, etc.
K Ebony
December 1, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Perfectly stated (He said, she said for now) Unless The Governor got his hands on the unredacted report and can tell that very debacherous activity has been on-going over an extended time period. There are so many open questions here..; For both Zieglers. Oh my word: Was this a one time sort of experimental accidental thing for Bridgette; Is Bridgette a Christian person and has since repented; Did the Zieglers have a rocky/open relationship and in reality were already heading for a split up/divorce; Did this happen the way the so called victim said with the acts being recorded; If recorded i assume the acts show the victim not being coerced and actually ahem, enjoying herself; Is the recording truly surreptitious/ illegal (prove it)?? On and on and on with the questions… But really, why would Gov Desantis just say resign over bald face he said/she said allegations of consenting adults…?
rick whitaker
December 2, 2023 at 12:40 pm
because desantis does what he thinks at the moment makes him look good. that’s not leadership. trump does the same thing, often. as a dem, i like it when bad maga cultist’ get caught. when preachers, priests, politicians, teachers or anyone with inordinate power over others is found to be criminal, unethical, or dishonest, it is glaring and inexcusable. somehow trump has escaped from this phenomenon .
My Take
December 3, 2023 at 4:35 am
#3 is a trans.
Q told me.
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