'Seems selfish’: Christian Ziegler slammed for not resigning from Florida GOP chairman role amid sexual assault investigation

ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Anger erupted on social media as Christian Ziegler, the embattled chairman of Florida’s Republican Party, refused to step down despite board members voting to suspend him amid a sexual assault investigation.

The 40-year-old chairman has been accused of raping a woman with whom he and his wife, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, had a previous consenting sexual relationship, according to police records.

Sarasota Police is currently investigating the unnamed woman’s claims that Ziegler attacked her after she declined to have sex when she learned Bridget would not be there.

Amid the ongoing investigation, the leadership of the Florida GOP gathered at an emergency closed-door meeting in Orlando on Sunday, December 17, to vote to declare him unfit for office, remove almost all of his authority, and reduce his salary to $1.

Christian Ziegler "has engaged in conduct that renders him unfit for the office", the party's motion to censure Ziegler said, according to a document posted on the social media platform X by Lee County GOP Chairman Michael Thomason.

During the closed-door meeting, Ziegler tried to defend himself and refused to step down from his role, according to My Sun Coast.com.

“He needs to resign. It was unanimous. Every single motion today was unanimously voted on and he’s still there,” said executive board member Michelle Salzman, as per the outlet.

Allegations against Christian Ziegler

Ziegler, who has faced calls to resign from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Rick Scott, and Representative Matt Gaetz, has been under criminal investigation in Sarasota, Fla., where he lives, since October, when a woman told the police that he had sexually assaulted her.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability initially provided CNN with a search warrant affidavit, which stated that on October 2, Ziegler and his wife Bridget had arranged a three-way sexual encounter with the accused victim.

However, “when the victim learned that Bridget could not make it, she changed her mind and canceled with Christian". The accuser claimed Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her

Ziegler has not been charged with a crime and says he is innocent, contending the encounter was consensual.

The accusation also has caused turmoil for Bridget Ziegler, an elected member of the Sarasota School Board, though she is not accused of any crime. Earlier this month, the board voted to ask her to resign but she refused to step down just like her husband.

Internet reacts to Christian Ziegler’s refusal to step down

Ziegler’s refusal to step down from his position has angered many social media users, with one saying “Weed the rats out.”

“Why hasn’t he been arrested?” the second user questioned.

“But…but…. Due process…. The b***h is lying…. It’s not my fault I swear,” the third user said.

“Seems selfish that he refuses to step aside and continue the side show about himself,” the fourth user fumed, while the fifth one said “Like Meatball, just doesn’t know when to quit.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.