Rape-accused Florida GOP chair now below investigation for video voyeurism

The investigation right into a Florida GOP Chairman’s rape allegations has been prolonged additional into whether or not he additionally dedicated video voyeurism.

A brand new search warrant affidavit filed by a detective from the Sarasota Police Division obtained by Enterprise Insider reveals that chairman Christian Ziegler is now being investigated for the “crime of Video Voyeurism.”

Mr Ziegler was initially below police scrutiny after he was accused of raping a lady whom he and his spouse Bridget Ziegler, the co-founder of right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ group Mothers for Liberty, have been allegedly in a long-term consensual relationship with.

The allegations have been revealed in October, claiming that he entered the girl’s house on 2 October and raped her when she refused to have intercourse with him with out his spouse current, an affidavit shared with The Impartial mentioned.

The primary affidavit alleges that Mr Ziegler instructed detectives the encounter was consensual and that he filmed it however deleted the footage when the allegations arose.

Now, it seems that investigators are trying into the video recording claims additional, in accordance with the newly unsealed affidavit filed on 11 December.

The affidavit describes that Mr Ziegler violated legal guidelines prohibiting Video Voyeurism by filming the sexual encounter with out the girl’s consent.

Mr Ziegler allegedly confirmed investigators a two-and-a-half minute video of the sexual encounter, the affidavit obtained by the outlet mentioned.

The investigators went on to ask the sufferer and Ms Ziegler in regards to the video, each claiming they didn’t know in regards to the footage and had not seen it.

“The sufferer didn’t give Ziegler consent to take this video of them having intercourse,” the affidavit reportedly mentioned.

In an interview with investigators when the allegations broke, Ms Ziegler instructed police that she and her husband had a consensual three-way sexual encounter with the accuser round a 12 months earlier than the October incident.

The affidavit believes that Mr Ziegler utilised Instagram to commit Video Voyeurism and is requesting entry to the GOP chairman’s Instagram account to search out “extra details about his felony exercise,” the affidavit mentioned.

Video Voyeurism in Florida is a third-degree felony of secretly recording somebody for his or her “personal amusement, leisure, sexual arousal, gratification, or revenue, or for the aim of degrading or abusing one other individual” in a scenario the place an individual “has an affordable expectation of privateness,” in accordance with the Florida statute.

This crime carries a punishment of as much as 5 years in jail.

No costs have been set towards Mr Ziegler as of but, however he has already seen losses to his fame and his political profession.

The Florida Republican Social gathering has stripped his wage to $1 in hopes that he would resign as chairman, however has but to take action.

A gathering on 8 January between the board expects to take away him from his place previously, in accordance with the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

The chairman’s spouse was additionally voted to be faraway from Sarasota County College Board on a 4-to-1 vote, with solely Ms Zieger herself being in opposition.

The ability couple have been influential in Florida, usually selling their dedication to “household values” whereas operating for workplace.

Ms Zieger co-founded the ‘dad or mum’s rights’ group Mothers for Liberty, which tries to fight “gender ideology” and “vital race idea,” arguing that LGBTQ+ discourse shouldn’t be mentioned in colleges.

The Impartial has contacted Mr Ziegler for remark.