Sen. Rick Scott calls on Florida GOP chair to step down amid sexual assault allegation
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Tuesday called on the chair of the Florida Republican Party to resign, amid an ongoing investigation into a rape allegation against him.
Scott stressed that the chair, Christian Ziegler, is innocent until proven guilty, but he expressed concern about Ziegler’s ability to perform as the party’s state leader “while this cloud hovers over him.”
"I'm very concerned about the reports I've read. The allegations are very disturbing. Everyone deserves their day in court and Christian and Bridget have been friends of mine throughout my career,” Scott said in a statement, referring to the chairman and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, who is also a prominent figure in Florida GOP politics. She co-founded Moms for Liberty.
“The Party has a very important decision before it, and the decision has to be made on what is best for winning elections in 2024. I don't see how Christian can continue to successfully act as Chairman while this cloud hovers over him. I'm praying for everyone involved in this,” he added.
Scott joins other high-profile GOP officials calling for Ziegler to step down from his post. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, also called on Ziegler to step down amid the ongoing investigation.
“I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing, given the gravity of those situations,” DeSantis told reporters Thursday night.
The backlash comes after The Florida Trident, part of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, first reported on the investigation. The alleged victim, whose name is redacted in the police report, says she has known Ziegler for 20 years. She told police that Ziegler forced his way into her apartment on Oct. 2 and raped her.
There have been no charges filed against Ziegler, but the case remains “active,” according to local police. Ziegler has denied the accusations of assault, but he told detectives on Nov. 2 that he had sex with the alleged victim and that it was consensual.
Ziegler has so far refused to resign.
In an email to state Republicans on Saturday, Ziegler did not address details of the accusation but asserted his innocence and claimed he and his wife were being targeted because they are “such loud political voices,” the AP reported.
“We have a country to save and I am not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission on the bench as I wait for this process to wrap up,” Ziegler wrote in the statement.
In a previous statement to news outlets, Ziegler's lawyer, Derek Byrd, said his client was cooperating with the investigation.
“We acknowledge the reports that there is an investigation being conducted by the Sarasota Police Department regarding Mr. Ziegler. Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department,” Byrd said. “We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated.”
“Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded,” he added.
The Hill has previously reached out to Ziegler for comment.