Share this @internewscast.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Christian Ziegler will not face sexual battery charges, but prosecutors will consider whether to charge him with video voyeurism stemming from a months-long investigation, according to a statement from the Sarasota Police Department.

The investigation started after an Oct. 2 sexual encounter between Ziegler and an unnamed woman, who later alleged to police in a complaint that Ziegler “raped” her. After interviewing dozens of people and reviewing surveillance footage, the police department in Sarasota, where Ziegler lives, determined it was “unable to develop probable cause” for a charge of sexual battery.

Police did, however, send a probable cause affidavit to prosecutors for video voyeurism, a felony crime, because Ziegler allegedly taped the sexual encounter without the woman’s knowledge, the Sarasota police said.

“After conducting an additional follow-up interview with the victim and after showing the victim the video recording of the sex act, the victim advised Sarasota Police detectives that she was unaware and did not consent to being video recorded,” according to the statement issued Friday by the Sarasota Police Department.

Ziegler attorney Derek Boyd said that since “day one, we have been confident Mr. Ziegler would be exonerated,” and he said the police “punted” to prosecutors the portion of the case that alleges unlawful videotaping of a sexual act.

“While we are disappointed that the Sarasota Police Department ‘punted’ the decision on the remaining portion of the case of the state attorney’s office, we strongly believe that the state attorney will not prosecute Mr. Ziegler for any crime,” Byrd said in a statement. 

The investigation, which was first reported by the Center for Government Accountability, sent shock waves through Florida Republican politics, leading to party officials to oust Ziegler as chair and install former vice chairman Evan Power as the new state GOP chairman.

Nearly every prominent Florida Republican, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, called on him to resign after news of the investigation broke, but Ziegler refused to do so. Ultimately, the state Republican Party had to hold a series of emergency meetings to reduce his power and then formally remove him as chairman earlier this month.

The investigation has also had fallout for Ziegler’s wife, Bridget, who herself is a well-known presence in conservative circles as a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a group that works to elect conservative women to school boards. 

According to search warrant affidavits obtained by NBC News, the Zieglers together allegedly had a previous sexual encounter with the woman who accused Christian Ziegler of rape. In addition to the legal investigation, the allegations led to backlash against Bridget Ziegler, who critics accused of hypocrisy over her focus on conservative policy issues including passing anti-LGBTQ laws. She helped author legislation championed by DeSantis that banned the talk of sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms up to third grade.

She was facing no allegations of wrongdoing, but Bridget Ziegler resigned her post as vice president of school boards for the Leadership Institute, a national group that trains conservative activists, and has faced multiple calls for her to resign from the Sarasota County School Board.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Airport security subdues a disruptive passenger.

Dramatic Scene: Woman Throws Temper Tantrum at Airport, Screams at Police Before Being Arrested

THIS is the shocking moment a furious passenger had a full-blown foot-stomping…
'Freakier Friday': Behind-the-scenes look at Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis on set of the new Disney sequel

‘Freaky Friday’ Sequel: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis on the Disney Set

Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of “Freakier Friday,” the sequel to the…
Justin Bieber confirms Hailey marriage struggles in album 'Swag'

Justin Bieber Opens Up About Marriage Challenges with Hailey in New Album ‘Swag’

Justin Bieber is hitting rumors head-on. The singer addressed his and Hailey…
Israel Coalition Against Houthis: Pressuring US for Yemen Strikes

Israel Coalition Advocates for US Intervention: Urging Strikes on Houthis in Yemen

Israel is urging the United States to resume military operations against Yemen’s…
'General Hospital,' 'The View,' 'Live with Kelly and Mark,' and Anthony Mackie are among the Daytime Emmy Awards nominees.

Daytime Emmy Nominations Include ‘General Hospital,’ ‘The View,’ ‘Live with Kelly and Mark,’ and Anthony Mackie

LOS ANGELES — The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has…

Grandpa’s Last Seen Moments on Video: Wife Shares Concern Over His ‘Confused’ Departure

GAS station footage has revealed the last moments a doting grandfather was…
New York ABSOLUTELY should ban masked 'protests'

New York Should Certainly Prohibit Masked ‘Protests’

Masked protestors took to the city streets, targeting Jewish neighborhoods, and voiced…
El Chapo's son pleads guilty to US drug trafficking

El Chapo’s Son Admits Guilt in US Drug Trafficking Case

As part of a plea agreement, Guzman Lopez admitted to helping oversee…
Caribbean police work to ID body found during search for missing American as nearby security guard was killed

Caribbean Authorities Seek to Identify Body Found During Search for Missing American After Nearby Security Guard Killing

A security guard was killed about 9 miles from where an American…
Inside the shoe bomb plot that changed airport security and why the rule is now ending

A Look at the Shoe Bomb Plot that Transformed Airport Security and the Reasons Behind the Rule’s End

After nearly two decades of shuffling barefoot through airport security lines, American…
Chicago's 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. wants son to replace him in City Council after retirement, drawing criticism

Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. faces backlash for proposing his son as successor in City Council’s 27th Ward after retirement

The longest-tenured member of the Chicago City Council is stepping down at…
Country singer Conner Smith involved in Nashville crash, killing pedestrian

Emerging Country Artist Conner Smith Cited Following Deadly Accident in Nashville

Police indicated Smith showed no signs of impairment at the time of…