by Michael Barfield, Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA)
A sex video involving Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler and an unidentified woman has been recovered by police as part of the ongoing criminal investigation of a rape allegation made against Bridget’s husband, Christian Ziegler, sources close to the investigation have told the Florida Trident.
In response to a specific public record request for that video, the Sarasota Police Department on Thursday asserted the video was exempt from disclosure due to the ongoing criminal investigation.
The video, according to sources, was obtained by police after a search warrant was executed on Christian Ziegler’s cell phone and Google account in November to recover evidence in connection with the alleged rape.
According to an affidavit filed by Sarasota police Det. Angela Cox, Christian Ziegler admitted to police he recorded the incident that led to the rape allegation, a video police also recovered in the investigation. Bridget Ziegler told investigators she and her husband had a joint sexual encounter with the same woman more than a year ago, according to the affidavit.
A second video has been recovered by police showing Bridget Ziegler, a cofounder of the conservative Moms for Liberty, engaging in sexual relations with a woman, sources said. It is not known if the woman in the video is the same woman who has alleged she was sexually assaulted by Christian Ziegler. Neither Christian nor Bridget Ziegler have responded to requests for comment from the Trident.
It was on October 2 that, according to the police affidavit, a tryst was planned with both Zieglers and the woman. The woman canceled the planned encounter after learning Bridget Ziegler was no longer available to attend. “Sorry I was mostly in for her,” the woman wrote in a message.
Christian Ziegler then went to the woman’s apartment, gained entry, and, according to the woman, raped her. The Trident has learned the video Ziegler took of that encounter may bolster his claim that the sexual encounter was consensual. No arrest has been made and the criminal investigation continues.
The embattled Christian Ziegler continues to hold the title of Florida GOP chair but was stripped of his authority and his $120,000 salary by the executive committee last Sunday. The committee also voted unanimously to urge Ziegler to resign, following the lead of numerous Republican leaders across the state – including Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, Congressman Vern Buchanan and Congressman Matt Gaetz. To date, Ziegler has resisted those efforts.
The Sarasota County School Board voted 4-1 to request Bridget Ziegler resign from the board. Ziegler was the only board member to vote no. Bridget has also refused to resign and DeSantis, who endorsed her in last year’s school board election, hasn’t moved to remove her from the school board. Bridget Ziegler also continues to serve as a DeSantis appointee on the Central Florida Tourism Board, the Disney oversight board
Numerous citizens spoke at last week’s packed school board meeting against Bridget Ziegler, many of them claiming the revelations of the police investigation exposed hypocrisy in her anti-LGBTQ efforts.
“Bridget and Christian Ziegler have stepped on the backs of marginalized communities across Florida,” said Nicholas Mechuka, of Equality Florida, at the meeting. “They have demonized people, Bridget Ziegler is an architect of Moms for Liberty. It is not a grassroots movement. It is a cynical sick tool hatched by the Zieglers to sell fear and division for political gain.”
“You have emotionally and psychologically damaged countless students, parents, and teachers with your hateful rhetoric,” resident Steve Russell told Bridget Ziegler. “Resign.”
About the Author: Michael Barfield focuses on the enforcement of open government laws. He serves as lead investigator for the Florida Trident and FLCGA’s director of public access. Michael regularly assists journalists across the country with collecting information and publishing news reports obtained from public records and other sources. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
This article first appeared on Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA) and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
10 Responses to “Police have recovered a sex video with Sarasota School Board member Bridget Ziegler, sources say”
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I won’t shame her for having relations with a woman, or for having a 3some. I will, however, shame her because of the holier than thou attitude and she deserves all the karma she has coming to her.
Will the video be made public? I would like the opportunity to independently verify the identies in the evidence to uphold the integrity of the investigation.
Trident. You and other news organizations need to clue in a little bit better. Like a lot better.
While the alleged victim is alleging rape, she is not alleging rape in the traditional sense. That is, by use of force.
There is another prong of the rape statute. It is when the alleged victims is unable to knowingly consent because she is, for example, under the influence.
Listen to the 911 recording. The caller (I think it is the victims sister) can be heard saying the alleged victim was in no condition to consent. She had apparently been drinking tequila all day.
So any video Christian has showing her possibly letting Christian into her apartment, or not showing use of force to have intercourse does not really shed much light on this type of rape.
Unless the video shows her talking (is her speech intelligible for example), walking (can she navigate a room) stuff like that. Over and out.
I’ve known any number of closeted and un-closeted Republicans, including one guy who used to wear women’s lingerie. “Judgement for thee, but not for me,” seems to be their mantra. You can’t believe a word these people say.
This IS the gop. Excuse all behavior from one of their own in politics. Nothing new here.
Where is the video? Asking cor a friend
Its not really gay .. just another three way. Right Bridge?
I feel it’s only fair to withhold judgment until after viewing these videos.
Weird that she is like the ones who she claimed to oppose and now they shame her 🤔
You see the difference is conservatives still call it sin and hypocrisy and ask her to step down , cause it’s evil hedonist stuff we wouldn’t want to most people to get caught up we don’t celebrate that sort of thing . In the eyes of LGBT what’s the crime then as far as sex ? That’s just the point being made by many conservatives who get involved in politics . Just because some level res pop culture social issues for political gain doesn’t make LGBT agenda any less harmful .. real conservatives are truly repentant and seek to have a balanced sex life monogamous and loyal , when Christ redeems us we are changed and works in progress seeking to be sexually ethical . Also I have known people who got caught up in that “sexual fantasy lived out “ some are fine with it and consensual but don’t celebrate it but rather keep it very private and personal , and others I have known who were convicted of it and had found out that it wasn’t love and they lost there true love and the romance part and it all created a division and pain , they decided to change and live anew , and sought to seek to live a sexually mature and ethical way. So I reckon what is best based on the science data is that a two parent home works best , self control when it comes to sex , selfless parenting and marriage , true love and maintain a strong family cause it’s about having decent families and strong homes help that happen , we should seek to resist lust snd temptations and be very devoted and interested in the sacrament of marriage not just for us but for the future children who become adults. Critical of this behavior when you want to be fully identified with a sexual identity and alter biological make up , I mean having no boundary or parameters and then calling it out when a line is crossed is just so freakin rich it’s maddening.
I see a lot of claims. I also see no evidence.