A call for the resignation of Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota school board and co-founder of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, was made by her fellow board members this week. The demand revolves around the investigation surrounding her husband, Christian Ziegler, Florida's GOP Chair, who is being accused of rape. Though no charges have been filed and Bridget is not under any criminal allegations, the couple’s private life has caught public attention.
Per an affidavit, the woman accusing Christian claims there was a planned sexual encounter with both Zieglers on October 2nd. While Bridget backed out, and hence the woman, Christian reportedly still arrived at the woman's residence. Allegedly, the woman clearly stated her incapacity to consent due to alcohol, but Christian proceeded to have sex with her. Despite the accusation, Christian maintains the encounter's consensual nature and declined resignation calls, asserting his coming exoneration.
The controversy amplified after Bridget admitted having a three-way sexual encounter with the accuser over a year ago during an interview with detectives. These revelations have stirred questions about the Zieglers’ stance on morality, given their political positions, and involvement in various movements like the Parents' Bill of Rights which stands against themes they deem inappropriate for kids, including LGBTQ content.
Twitter Post On Sarasota school board demands Bridget Ziegler's resignation amidst controversy
However, Bridget dismissed calls for her resignation stating, 'As people may know, I serve on another public board, and this issue did not come up, and we were able to forge ahead with the business of the board.' Only Governor DeSantis holds the capacity to remove her from offices, but it remains unclear if he will turn against his longtime ally.
An anonymous democratic member of the Sarasota school board expressed that the details of the investigation are enough to be a significant distraction, even though Bridget isn’t guilty of crime. They further note that her words will always be scrutinized for hypocrisy or political agenda, resulting in a loss of trust among the board. Furthermore, they express concern that this situation could discourage community involvement, serving as a deterrent to potential new members.
