Christian Ziegler ousted as Florida GOP chairman

The ongoing investigation into sexual misconduct by former Sarasota Commissioner Christian Ziegler has officially cost him his leadership position in the Republican Party of Florida. 

On Monday, the state GOP’s Executive Committee elected Evan Power of Tallahassee as the new chairman.

Power previously served as vice chairman.

According to an announcement on the Florida GOP website, Power received overwhelming support to assume the chairmanship. The former chairman of the Leon County Republican Party was selected over Peter Feaman of Boynton Beach by a vote of 135-65.

Ziegler was stripped of his powers and his salary by the organization in December after he refused to resign. 

Ziegler has maintained through his attorney that the sexual encounter with a Sarasota woman, whom he has referred to as a longtime friend, was consensual.

The incident occurred on Oct. 2, 2023, when Ziegler and his wife, Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler, were scheduled for a threesome encounter at the woman’s apartment, which the Zieglers admit was not the first for the three. 

However, the accuser alleges that when she learned Bridget Ziegler would not attend and declined to participate, Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and sexually assaulted her.

No charges have yet to be filed, but the salacious nature of the incident was enough to prompt the Florida GOP to move to replace Ziegler.

Among the evidence Ziegler has used in his defense during the investigation is a video of the incident captured on his cellphone, a video his accuser said she did not not know existed. That video, however, led to an investigation into a possible additional charge against Ziegler — video voyeurism.

An affidavit dated Dec. 8 to secure a search warrant for Ziegler’s Instagram account requests Meta Platforms Inc. turn over any stored communications or files associated with Ziegler’s account as well as any new prints; photos or videos; journal entries, comments and private messages; and any images, videos or chats within the vanish mode setting.

Ziegler’s attorney Derek Byrd offered no comment on the current state of the investigation.