In a major development, the Republican Party of Florida has ousted its chairman, Christian Ziegler, following a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual assault. The decision to remove Ziegler came after weeks of resistance from him, despite mounting pressure from party members and prominent Republicans. The scandal surrounding Ziegler has dominated headlines and raised concerns about the political repercussions for the party.

The state party's executive committee had already censured Ziegler and stripped him of his duties and salary in mid-December. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Rick Scott, and several county-level Republican chairs had called for Ziegler's resignation. However, it was not until the recent meeting in Tallahassee, where approximately 200 party members voted to remove him, that Ziegler's tenure officially came to an end. Only a few members opposed the motion, which also declared Ziegler as no longer a member in good standing with the party.

Evan Power, the head of the Leon County Republican Party in Tallahassee and the former vice chairman of the state party, has been appointed as Ziegler's replacement. Ziegler did not attend the meeting and has not yet responded to requests for comment. The police in Sarasota, where Ziegler resides, had confirmed in late November that he was under investigation for sexual assault.

According to a police report and a search warrant affidavit, a woman accused Ziegler of raping her in October. Ziegler, who has not been charged, denies any wrongdoing and claims that the encounter was consensual. The woman alleged that she had previously engaged in a consensual sexual encounter with Ziegler and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, over a year ago. However, on the day of the incident, she declined to have sex with Ziegler after realizing that his wife would not be present. The woman claimed that Ziegler then went to her apartment uninvited and sexually assaulted her.

The investigation into Ziegler also includes allegations of video voyeurism, according to the Florida Center for Government Accountability. This has further heightened concerns and led to calls for Bridget Ziegler, an elected member of the Sarasota County School Board, to resign. The board itself passed a nonbinding resolution calling for her resignation, citing the distraction caused by the ongoing scandal.

The Zieglers, known as a political power couple in Sarasota, have been influential figures in right-wing activism. Christian Ziegler, a conservative activist, has promoted anti-LGBTQ+ policies in schools and co-founded the right-wing group Moms for Liberty. Bridget Ziegler, on the other hand, has faced criticism for her perceived hypocrisy due to her public persona conflicting with her involvement in the sexual encounter with Ziegler's accuser.

The Republican Party of Florida's decision to remove Ziegler comes at a crucial time, with Governor DeSantis competing in Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucus. DeSantis, who trails behind former President Donald Trump in the polls, seeks the GOP nomination for president. The party aims to move past the scandal and focus on upcoming elections, including DeSantis' potential bid for the presidency in 2024.

The controversy surrounding Ziegler also highlights another contentious issue for the party. Under DeSantis' leadership, Florida has implemented policies that strip rights away from LGBTQ+ individuals and ban instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. This has further fueled criticism and accusations of hypocrisy against the Zieglers, who have been vocal opponents of LGBTQ+ rights.

As the investigation into Ziegler continues, the Republican Party of Florida will strive to regain its footing and maintain its influence in the state's political landscape. The outcome of this scandal could have far-reaching implications for the party's future and its ability to secure victories in upcoming elections.