SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — A co-founder of the conservative Mothers for Liberty group might transfer a step nearer to getting ousted from a Florida college board on Tuesday, as she is embroiled within the fallout of a sexual assault investigation into her husband, the Republican Social gathering state chairman.
The Sarasota County College Board can not straight take away Bridget Ziegler from the panel however was set to vote on a decision requesting that she step down. The decision was authored by board Chair Karen Rose, who stated in an e mail that she is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the rape allegations involving Ziegler’s husband, Christian Ziegler, and the couple’s admissions about having a three-way sexual encounter beforehand with the accuser.
“I personally care about Bridget and her household and deeply remorse the need for this plan of action, however given the extraordinary media scrutiny regionally and nationally, her continued presence on the Board would trigger irreparably dangerous distractions to our essential mission,” Rose wrote.
Bridget Ziegler has served on the board since 2014, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, and has beforehand been its chair. She didn’t reply to e mail messages searching for remark in regards to the resignation decision, which is on the board’s agenda for a Tuesday night assembly.
The Sarasota Police Division is investigating a girl’s accusation that Christian Ziegler raped her at her condominium in October. Police paperwork say the Zieglers and the lady had deliberate a sexual threesome that day, however Bridget Ziegler was unable to make it. The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her, in accordance with the paperwork.
Christian Ziegler has not been charged with any crime and maintains his innocence, contending the encounter was consensual. Scott, Gov. Ron DeSantis and different Florida Republicans have referred to as on him to step down as GOP chair, however he has refused to take action.
In a current message to Florida Republicans, Christian Ziegler stated he would stay as chair “as a result of now we have a rustic to save lots of and I’m not going to let false allegations of a criminal offense put that mission on the bench as I look ahead to this course of to wrap up.”
Christian Ziegler’s lawyer, Derek Byrd, stated in an e mail Monday he’s “hoping (the) investigation is closed quickly.” A Sarasota Police Division spokesperson stated there isn’t a timetable for the probe to conclude.
Bridget Ziegler has lengthy been lively in conservative politics. She was a champion of the DeSantis-backed legislation recognized by critics as “Do not Say Homosexual,” which restricts instructing of sexual and gender materials in early college grades. Mothers for Liberty, which she co-founded in 2021, goals to inject extra conservative viewpoints in colleges, prohibit transgender rights, battle pandemic masks mandates and take away books they object to from college school rooms and libraries.
As well as, DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to the brand new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that oversees Walt Disney World’s operations. That panel — which changed one managed by Disney — was created by the Legislature at DeSantis’ request after Disney objected to the “Do not Say Homosexual” legislation. The board at present is the topic of state and federal lawsuits over management of the large theme park outdoors Orlando.
Democrats and different critics say the Zieglers are hypocritical as a result of the alleged sexual actions are fully at odds with the conservative views they push on others, notably LGBTQ folks.
“The Zieglers have made a behavior out of attacking something they understand as going towards ‘household values,’ be it reproductive rights or the existence of LGBTQ+ Floridians,” state Democratic Social gathering Chair Nikki Fried stated in an announcement. “The extent of hypocrisy on this scenario is beautiful.”
The state GOP has referred to as a gathering for Sunday in Orlando to debate Christian Ziegler’s future as celebration chair.