Florida Republicans vote to strip embattled chairman Christian Ziegler of authority
Jack Birle
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The Florida Republican Party executive board voted to strip party chairman Christian Ziegler of his authority on Sunday, as he is embroiled in the fallout of a rape accusation made against him.
The board reduced Ziegler’s salary to $1 and stripped him of his power, while also setting up a Jan. 8, 2024, meeting of the full party governing body to remove the chairman and elect a new one.
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“We asked him to resign immediately, he has still not resigned,” Florida GOP Vice Chair Evan Power, per the Herald-Tribune. “So we wait, we’re calling a special meeting for Jan. 8 in Tallahassee to elect a new chairman and remove him formally from office.”
Ziegler was also censured by the executive board during the meeting in Orlando on Sunday, with the censure motion declaring that the board “has lost confidence” in Ziegler’s “ability to effectively lead” the party, according to a copy of the motion posted by Lee County GOP chairman Michael Thompson.
“Christian Ziegler has engaged in conduct that renders him unfit for the office of Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and the leader of the Florida GOP,” the motion said.
Ziegler and his wife, who serves on the Sarasota County School Board, have been called on to resign from their respective positions amid the scandal, in which the Florida GOP chairman is under police investigation for alleged sexual battery. Ziegler has denied the accusations made against him.
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Nearly all prominent Republicans in the state have called on Ziegler to resign as party leader, including Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, state House Speaker Paul Renner, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and other statewide GOP leaders.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) joined the calls for Ziegler to resign on Friday, telling NBC News the Florida GOP “would be better served with different leadership in the Republican Party.”