Florida Republicans Remove Party Leader Following Allegations of Rape

Christian Ziegler, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, has been fired following an investigation into a sexual assault allegation against him. The decision was made in a private vote on Monday, with the majority in favor of his removal. The accusation claims that Ziegler raped a woman whom he had previously engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with, along with his wife. Despite not being charged with a crime, Ziegler has denied the allegations and refused to step down. The investigation by the Sarasota Police Department continues, with recent claims that Ziegler illegally recorded the encounter without consent. This scandal marks a downfall for the Zieglers, a influential conservative couple in Florida politics. While Bridget Ziegler, Christian's wife, has also faced calls to resign, she has remained in her position as an elected member of the Sarasota County School Board and co-founder of the right-wing advocacy group Moms for Liberty. The Republican Party has also faced controversy in Michigan, where their chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, was ousted due to poor fundraising.