Christian Ziegler's Accuser Wanted To Drop Sarasota Rape Case: Reports

SARASOTA, FL — The woman who accused ousted GOP leader Christian Ziegler of rape wanted to drop the case against him, while his wife seemed surprised to learn of the sexual assault charges he faced, media outlets reported.

Christian Ziegler was the former chair of the Republican Party of Florida and is married to Bridget Ziegler, Moms for Liberty co-founder and a Sarasota County School Board member.

Both the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and WFLA secured Saturday newly-released police transcripts in connection with the October 2023 rape case against Christian Ziegler. They say the transcripts show police interviews with both he and his wife and have shed light on new details.

Christian Ziegler was not concerned with the case against him but rather public backlash, the outlet reported.

“I’m not necessarily worried about the complaint; I’m worried about the public side of it,” he told police, WFLA reported.

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The accuser previously told law enforcement that she was supposed to have a three-way sexual encounter with the Zieglers; however, she backed out once she learned that Bridget Ziegler would not be joining them.

Despite this, Christian Ziegler arrived at the woman's home, and recorded an alleged sexual encounter between the two of them. During the probe, police determined the interaction between the two was "likely consensual.

Authorities advised charging Christian Ziegler with video voyeurism after the woman said she did not consent to being recorded.

Though the accuser maintained the encounter was not consensual, at a point in time, she declined to prosecute Christian Ziegler because of "emotional stress," the Herald-Tribune reported.

The news outlet published the conversation between the woman and detectives, citing police transcripts.

"The alleged victim met with two Sarasota Police detectives on Oct. 25. A detective started the interview by mentioning that 'you called... and said that you didn't want to go through with the... You didn't want to do anything. Is that still your mindset,'" the outlet reported.

After the woman asked a detective what they thought, a definite answer was not given.

"'It's a lot to get through,' the alleged victim responds," the Herald-Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, Bridget Ziegler told authorities she and her husband have previously had a three-way with the woman though she said the sexual assault charges against him were shocking to her, WFLA reported.

Read more via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and WFLA.