Florida GOP censures embattled chair Christian Ziegler, strips him of power

The Florida Republican Party on Sunday formally censured and called for the resignation of its chair, Christian Ziegler, amid an ongoing investigation into a rape allegation against him.  

At a special meeting of the Republican Party of Florida’s executive board, members supported motions to revoke Ziegler’s authority, to reduce his salary to $1, to revoke reimbursements of his expenses and to censure him, according to Lee County GOP Chairman Michael Thompson, who posted updates of the meeting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Christian Ziegler has engaged in conduct that renders him unfit to continue to serve as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida,” which “has lost confidence in Christian Ziegler’s ability to effectively lead our party,” the censure motion read.

The Florida GOP executive board, therefore, “hereby formally censures Christian Ziegler and for the good of the Republican Party of Florida requests his immediate resignation as Chairman,” the censure continued.

Thompson said on X that Ziegler tried to mount a defense during the meeting, writing, from inside the meeting, that “Ziegler on soap box trying to defend himself,” but added that it was “not working.”

The resolution comes after a woman, whose name is redacted in police records, accused Ziegler of forcing his way into her apartment and raping her on Oct. 2. Ziegler and his wife, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, had previously engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with the woman, according to police records.

Ziegler has denied the rape accusation and has not been charged with any crimes. News of the accusation, however, has attracted national media attention and has seen some top Florida GOP figures previously call for his resignation — including Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is also a GOP primary contender for president in 2024.

In the censure resolution, the Florida GOP executive board suggested Ziegler was a distraction ahead of the 2024 election.

“As a result of such conduct and actions, Christian Ziegler has injured the good name of the Republican Party of Florida, disturbed its well-being, and hampered the organization in performing its mission to support the principles, objectives, and values of the Republican Party and secure the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates,” the censure motion read.

The motion also claimed that Ziegler “has not been forthright and honest” with the Florida GOP and that “the Executive Board has lost confidence in Christian Ziegler’s ability to effectively lead” the party.

“The 2024 elections are the most important of our lifetime and demands the full and undivided attention of our party to defeat the Democrats and Joe Biden,” the motion read.