'Pruning their scandal garden': GOP mocked after Florida Republicans finally vote out Christian Ziegler

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: The Republican Party of Florida fired its chairman, Christian Ziegler, amid police investigations on rape accusations against him, reported Associated Press.

He was ousted in a special vote held on Monday, January 9. Around 200 Florida GOP members approved his removal through a voice vote in a closed-door meeting. Ziegler did not attend the meeting in Tallahassee.

According to AP, Republican state Senator Blaise Ingoglia, who participated in the vote, said no one spoke in favor of the former chairman.

"We're spending a lot of time and energy on this meeting instead of focusing on the things we need to focus on and that's simply because Christian Ziegler did not do the right thing and resign," Ingoglia said.

"There's been some harm done to the Republican Party of Florida," he added.

The scandal began in November 2023 when an accuser filed a complaint with the Sarasota Police Department against Ziegler and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, Moms for Liberty co-founder.

The accuser revealed that they were in a "three-year consensual threeway sexual relationship." Based on a BBC report, he allegedly raped the woman at her apartment in October 2023.

The party suspended the accused in December and demanded his resignation, saying the allegations stopped him from effectively leading during a critical election time. However, Ziegler has denied the allegations.

Florida GOP vice chair Evan Power elected as replacement

During the same meeting, the Florida GOP elected vice chair Evan Power to replace Ziegler. Governor Ron DeSantis recently endorsed him.

The developments in DeSantis's home state come amid his seeking the GOP nomination for the 2024 presidential election ahead of the January 15 Iowa caucus. However, he is trialing behind another Floridian, former president Donald Trump.

Ziegler and his wife admitted to the police that they previously had a threeway consensual relationship with the accuser.

Internet ridicules GOP

Ziegler and his wife were infamous for their outspoken opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, and the scandal led to criticism of their hypocritical conservative values.

Following the GOP's decision to oust him, social media users are mocking the party over their "family values".

One user remarked, "It's like they're pruning their scandal garden, and Ziegler was the weed that just had to go."

Another user wrote, "Party of family values strikes again."

"What? They found some morals?" asked a third user.

A fourth user added, "It’s like they’re all guilty of what they accuse others of doing."

"Brought to you by the “family values” party," read one reaction.

Another said, "Knowing the GOP I for sure thought they would make him a Presidential candidate."

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