Authorities announced on Friday that Christian Ziegler, the former chair of the Florida Republican Party, will not be facing sexual assault charges. However, investigators have recommended felony video voyeurism charges against him based on the evidence gathered.
Ziegler was removed from his position earlier this month after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at her home in Sarasota, Florida.
According to a news release by the police, the "video evidence" suggests that the encounter between Ziegler and the woman was likely consensual, leading to the decision not to charge him with sexual battery.
However, the woman stated that she was unaware of being recorded during the sexual encounter and did not give her consent. As a result, the police have filed a probable cause affidavit with the Florida State Attorney's Office, recommending that Ziegler be charged with felony voyeurism.
Detectives conducted nearly a dozen interviews and reviewed several hours of surveillance footage as part of their investigation.
Suspension and Resignation of Christian Ziegler
In November, allegations of sexual assault against Christian Ziegler came to light, leading to his suspension in December. Recently, he was voted out of his position. Prominent Republican figures, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, had urged Ziegler to step down.
Background on Florida Trident
Florida Trident, a well-known organization, reported that Bridget Ziegler, wife of Christian Ziegler, is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty. This far-right group advocates for parental rights and supports right-wing candidates for school boards. They oppose the inclusion of references to race or LGBTQ identity in classrooms and have called for the removal of books on gender or sexuality from school libraries.
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