Jesse Scheckner
Florida’s highest ranking House Democrat agrees with the state GOP’s top elected officials: Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler must go.
On Sunday, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell joined a growing chorus of Sunshine State officials demanding that Ziegler step down amid accusations of rape.
To not do so, she said, would be telling roughly half the state’s residents that justice for sexual crimes against them is less important to Republicans than maintaining powerful political positions.
“Christian Ziegler must resign,” Driskell said on X. “To not step away would send a chilling message to the women of Florida about how the Republican Party views sexual assault.”
Driskell’s statement came shortly after House Speaker Paul Renner similarly called for the resignation of Ziegler, who is under investigation for raping a woman with whom he and his wife, Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler, admitted to having tryst last year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo have also said Ziegler should vacate his post following the accusation, which police are still investigating.
The Zieglers admitted to having at least one prior sexual encounter with the woman, who claims Christian Ziegler raped her at her home Oct. 2 after she canceled plans for another rendezvous when Bridget Ziegler said she couldn’t participate.
A search warrant used to obtain digital information from Ziegler’s electronic device confirms he was at the woman’s home when the crime allegedly took place. Police also possess text messages in which the woman, who later sought a rape kit test at a hospital, accused Ziegler of assaulting her.
Ziegler denied doing so in texts to the woman, statements to the police and an email to Republican Party of Florida members. He said the encounter was consensual and that he had video evidence to prove it. The warrant affidavit said police had not yet recovered the video.
17 comments
Margaret Chrisawn
December 3, 2023 at 5:54 pm
I really don’t know why, exactly, but I’d love to see what that fool or a troll, Earl Pitts, has to say about this wonderful example of Rethug family values.
rick whitaker
December 3, 2023 at 7:58 pm
margret, whatever earl has to say about anything will have the words dook and sphincter in it.
Joe
December 3, 2023 at 11:07 pm
Dooksphincter says what? Only your Earl knows for sure
My Take
December 3, 2023 at 5:58 pm
telling roughly half the state’s residents that justice for sexual crimes against them is less important to Republicans than maintaining powerful political positions.
======
As with rapist Trump.
Larry Gillis, Libertarian (Cape Coral)
December 3, 2023 at 6:09 pm
tom palmer
December 3, 2023 at 6:35 pm
I do not understand why Democrats do not simply allow Ziegler to continue to the logical conclusion of this drama.
rick whitaker
December 3, 2023 at 7:54 pm
tom, i’m a democrat and i want zeigler to stay. i see that as a plus for dems. so, i agree with you.
Impeach Biden
December 4, 2023 at 5:29 am
Rick a Democrat? Who would have figured. 🤣
rick whitaker
December 4, 2023 at 8:47 pm
impeach biden, i am a far left progressive democrat, not just a democrat.
Impeach Biden
December 3, 2023 at 7:16 pm
I bet Fentrice was a big Andrew Gillum supporter. What do you think?🤣
Ocean Joe
December 3, 2023 at 7:40 pm
Ziegler should probably wait to step down until they lock the cell door, as Trump seems to be doing. If he skates, if it turns out to be a HOAX, or a ‘WEAPONIZATION OF THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE!’ he can continue to champion the goals of the Republican party by capturing the swinger vote to go along with the moron vote.
For now, he should echo Trump and claim: “I’ve never seen that woman before. She’s not my type. Etc.”
My Take
December 3, 2023 at 8:01 pm
If he skates with the GOP it is because there were two womèn in the threesome.
Josh Green
December 3, 2023 at 10:10 pm
Republicans hate women so of course they don’t care that one of their good ol’ boys raped one.
If the average Conservative Republican Man got his way, rape would be Holy Sacrament.
Jimmy
December 4, 2023 at 2:54 am
Someone should let Ms. Driskell in on the “secret” that that ship sailed in 2016 when Trump became president. After all the damage he and his crooked cronies on the SCOTUS caused and anyone still questions that? Have your brain checked for mini stroke.
Abram Nicholson
December 4, 2023 at 8:12 am
The previous comment, ” telling roughly half the state’s residents that justice for sexual crimes against them is less important to Republicans than maintaining powerful political positions” is no different than Donald Trump raping without penlty from the GOP. That should be all you need to know about the Republican party. And vote elsewhere. Please do not assume I like Biden and make false comments about my political leanings. I want Biden gone.
Richard C Russell
December 4, 2023 at 1:36 pm
So Republicans should continue convicting members without trial, as they did recently to the New York Congressman. The America founded in the Eighteen Century called for “Innocent until proven Guilty” to be equal justice under the law. In the Twenty First Century, the Dems have effectively destroyed equal justice. The Democrats don’t convict their own, even when irrefutable evidence stares them in the face – what a perversion.
rick whitaker
December 4, 2023 at 7:14 pm
richard russell, do you not know that being expelled from congress is not a trial and thus not subject to the same rules as the justice system. your comment is foolish and partisan. watch something on tv besides fox and you may grow in understanding. maga cultist comments like yours are so boring and predictable. go kiss the orange jesus’ ring and get your superpowers.
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