The Florida Republican Party on Monday ousted its chairman, Christian Ziegler, saying his leadership became untenable after a woman accused him of rape.
Mr. Ziegler denies the accusation and hasn’t been criminally charged, but the situation was viewed as a drag on the swing-state party in a presidential election year. The state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, is a top-tier contender in the GOP presidential race.
Complicating matters for the party, Mr. Ziegler and his wife, Bridget, have acknowledged having a consensual sexual relationship with Mr. Ziegler’s accuser.
Mrs. Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a national conservative activist group, and was appointed by Mr. DeSantis to the governing district for Walt Disney World, prompting accusations of hypocrisy given GOP stances on LGBT policies.
The Florida Republican Party turned the page by voting out Mr. Ziegler and elevating Vice Chairman Evan Power to the chairman’s position.
“Under his strong leadership, we will Keep Florida RED, deliver Florida’s 30 electoral votes to the GOP presidential candidate, and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Let’s get to work!” the party wrote on X.
The Sarasota Police Department is investigating the woman’s accusation that Mr. Ziegler raped her at her apartment in October. Police documents say the Zieglers and the woman had planned a sexual threesome that day, but Bridget Ziegler was unable to attend. The accuser says Mr. Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her.
Mr. Ziegler says he is innocent, contending the encounter was consensual.
• This story is based in part on wire reports.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.