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Former Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler won’t face prosecution following an investigation into suspicions of rape and video voyeurism.
Prosecutors made the announcement Wednesday concerning video voyeurism. Ziegler already had been cleared of the rape allegations by police again in January, in accordance with the Related Press.
His accuser made inconsistent statements about whether or not she consented to the video made by Christian Ziegler in the course of the October encounter at her dwelling, prosecutors stated in a memo obtained by the AP.
The lady advised investigators that “she might have consented to the video being taken — she is just unable to recall someway,” the memo stated.
VIDEO VOYEURISM ADDED TO PROBE OF FLORIDA GOP CHAIR FOLLOWING RAPE ALLEGATION
Christian Ziegler addresses attendees on the Republican Celebration of Florida Freedom Summit, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photograph/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Ziegler maintained his innocence all through the investigation.
“Mr. Ziegler is relieved to be utterly cleared of the false allegations and any felony wrongdoing. We cooperated at each stage of investigation and as tough because it was, we remained quiet out of respect for the investigation,” his legal professional Derek Byrd stated.
FLORIDA GOP SUSPENDS CHAIRMAN, DEMANDS RESIGNATION AMID RAPE ALLEGATIONS
Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler was the topic of felony sexual battery investigation. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket by way of Getty Photographs)
A grievance in opposition to Ziegler was filed with the Sarasota Police Division on Oct. 4, stating that the alleged sexual battery occurred inside a lady’s Sarasota dwelling on Oct. 2.
Ziegler’s spouse, who co-founded the conservative group Mothers for Liberty which offers with training in Florida colleges, advised police that she, the sufferer and her husband had consensual intercourse collectively over a yr earlier than the alleged crime occurred, Politico reported.
Bridget Ziegler, founding father of Mothers for Liberty, left, and Christian Ziegler Florida GOP Chairman, proper. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Photographs, left, Paul Hennessy/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket by way of Getty Photographs, proper.)
In accordance with textual content messages cited within the affidavit, the girl and the Zieglers had deliberate to once more have group intercourse on Oct. 2, however the girl backed out after Bridget Ziegler “could not make it.”
In a Nov. 2 interview with detectives, 40-year-old Ziegler stated the intercourse was consensual and that he had recorded it. He stated he deleted the video, then recovered it after the rape allegation surfaced.
Christian Ziegler, seen right here with President Trump, was not charged with a criminal offense and stated the sexual encounter was consensual. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel by way of AP)
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The controversy led the state Republican Celebration to take away Ziegler as chair in January. There have additionally been efforts in Sarasota to drive Bridget Ziegler from the varsity board, however she has refused to resign.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Former Florida GOP chair received’t face prices over sexual encounter that price him his job
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