DeSantis says Florida GOP chairman should 'step aside' amid sexual assault investigation

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said the chairman of Florida's Republican Party should step down while he faces an investigation for alleged sexual battery.

“I don’t see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations, and so I think that he should, I think he should step aside,” DeSantis told reporters.

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It was reported Thursday that Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler is under an active investigation by the Sarasota Police Department. The investigation involves a "sexual assault complaint" and mentions the word "raped" twice, according to a redacted 13-page police report.

“He’s innocent till proven guilty," DeSantis cautioned, "but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.”

An attorney for Ziegler, Derek Byrd, acknowledged the reports in a statement, adding his client “has been fully cooperative." He further said, “We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated."

The Florida GOP said in a statement to the Washington Post that it was “aware of the allegations related to Chairman Christian Ziegler" but didn't offer comment.

The Washington Examiner contacted the Florida GOP, but its phone number was disconnected. The party did not respond to an email request for comment.

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Ziegler is married to co-founder of Moms for Liberty and county school board member Bridget Ziegler. In a statement to the Washington Examiner, fellow co-founders Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich said, "Bridget was an original founder of Moms for Liberty, but she stepped back from the organization’s board in 2021."

"We have learned long ago to not believe everything we read online, and we are confident she will get to tell her side of things to those who are interested in more than clickbait," they added.