Police cleared the ousted chair of the Florida Republican Celebration of rape allegations on Friday, however stated they’ve requested prosecutors to cost him with illegally video recording the sexual encounter he had with a feminine acquaintance.
The Sarasota Police Division stated in an announcement {that a} overview of a cellphone video Christian Ziegler manufactured from the Oct. 2 encounter confirmed that it was “seemingly consensual,” making it unimaginable to cost him with rape. Nevertheless, police stated the girl instructed investigators that she by no means consented to be video recorded and was unaware it had occurred.
Police stated they requested the Sarasota County State Lawyer’s Workplace on Friday to file video voyeurism costs towards Ziegler, however that has not but occurred. Prosecutors didn’t instantly return a telephone name searching for remark. Beneath Florida legislation, video voyeurism is a third-degree felony that’s punishable by as much as 5 years in jail.
Derek Byrd, Ziegler’s lawyer, stated in an announcement that “since day one, we’ve got been assured Mr. Ziegler could be exonerated from these baseless allegations.”
“He has been utterly sincere, forthright, and has been absolutely cooperative with legislation enforcement at each stage of this investigation,” Byrd stated. “Whereas we’re disillusioned that the Sarasota Police Division ‘punted’ the choice on the remaining portion of the case to the State Lawyer’s workplace, we strongly consider that the State Lawyer won’t prosecute Mr. Ziegler for any crime.”
Ziegler, 40, beforehand admitted having intercourse with the girl however insisted it was consensual and blamed political opponents for sensationalizing the matter. Courtroom information present that his spouse, Bridget Ziegler, instructed detectives the three had engaged in intercourse as soon as greater than a 12 months in the past. Police stated Bridget Ziegler backed out of the deliberate encounter however her husband went to the accuser’s condominium alone.
Bridget Ziegler is a outstanding conservative who co-founded the Mothers for Liberty group and can be an elected member of the Sarasota County faculty board. She was additionally appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the board that now oversees Walt Disney World’s land improvement. DeSantis pushed by means of laws final 12 months disbanding a Disney-controlled board after the corporate opposed his invoice that limits intercourse training in faculties.
The Republican Celebration of Florida ousted Ziegler earlier this month as police investigated the rape accusation towards him. The social gathering had suspended Ziegler final month and demanded his resignation, saying he could not successfully lead throughout a crucial election 12 months with the allegations swirling round him. DeSantis, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and different Republican leaders had additionally referred to as on Ziegler to step down.
It wasn’t instantly clear what the conclusion of the rape investigation would imply for Ziegler’s future with the state Republican Celebration. Evan Energy, who had been vice chair of the state GOP, has already been chosen to interchange Ziegler.
Earlier, Sarasota Police Detective Angela Cox stated in search warrant affidavits that investigators have been searching for emails, photographs, movies, contacts and different data from Ziegler’s cellphone and Google account as a part of their investigation into the girl’s accusation.
The girl instructed detectives that she and Ziegler have identified one another for greater than 20 years. She stated that on Oct. 2, she agreed to have intercourse with Ziegler and his spouse however backed out after being instructed that Ziegler’s spouse “could not make it.”
The girl stated that some time later, she left her condominium to stroll her canine and located Ziegler standing within the hallway. She says he pushed her inside and raped her, in response to the affidavits. Investigators say the condominium advanced’s safety video exhibits Ziegler getting into the constructing and leaving.
The girl’s sister instructed Cox that the girl referred to as her and instructed her she was raped. The girl reported the rape two days later.
In late October, after Ziegler tried to contact the girl, police had her trade monitored telephone and textual content message conversations with him. In keeping with the affidavits, he insisted they’re buddies and at one level recommended that they meet in individual.
“Hell no, not after what you probably did to me. Do you perceive I’m afraid of you?” she wrote to him.
He replied that he needed to go.
In a telephone name, the girl instructed Ziegler that he had sexually assaulted her.
“These are huge phrases, please do not, no I did not,” he replied. “You invited me in.”
He supplied her “monetary assist” earlier than turning into suspicious that their calls have been being recorded.
In a Nov. 2 interview with detectives together with his lawyer current, Ziegler stated the intercourse was consensual and that he had recorded it. He stated he then deleted the video, however after the accusation he recovered it and uploaded it to Google.
