Former Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler and his Moms for Liberty co-founder wife have launched a lawsuit seeking to keep records related to his rape investigation secret.
Ziegler was accused in October of raping a woman who had a threesome with him and his wife Bridget. He lost his top Republican job because of the investigation, which did not result in charges.
Amid fallout from the sex scandal, the couple filed a lawsuit Friday against the State Attorney’s Office and the Sarasota Police Department, alleging that releasing the documents “would cause great humiliation and harm their reputation individual”.
They claim cops had unrestricted access to Christian’s phone, which contained information from other time periods, including his browser history and call logs.
Former Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler (R) and Mom’s for Liberty co-founding wife Bridget (L) are suing to preserve records obtained in Christian’s rape investigation from public.
Christian was ousted as chairman of the Florida Republican Party last year following the investigation, which resulted in no criminal charges.
Because investigators had such broad access, the Zieglers asked the Sarasota County Court to “order the permanent destruction” of all text messages found in the phone, reports the Daily Beast.
According to the recently filed complaint, first obtained by Tridentone of the search warrants gave “unrestricted access to the entire contents of Christian Ziegler’s cell phone.”
“To say that someone’s entire life is contained in their cell phone is an understatement,” the complaint reads.
Police and the prosecutor’s office have already received public records requests for the “completeness” of the information, which they say has heightened concerns that their reputations could be tarnished by the content.
“The Zieglers are concerned that other individuals and media outlets are making or have already made similar public records requests to the SPD or SAO now that the investigation is complete,” they said in the reported filing.
Among the damaging information allegedly contained in the phone records is a “video of Christian Ziegler and his accuser having sex,” and “the entirety” of his “web browsing history.”
The images of Ziegler and his accuser were given to police by Christian while he was under investigation, as proof that the sex was consensual.
In their complaint, Bridget (pictured) and Christian Ziegler say they fear the media will leak the contents of Christian’s phone, and public records requests have already been made by some media outlets.
After being questioned by police last year, Christian allegedly conducted several Google searches on his phone, including “Sexual Battery Settlement Average,” “Instagram Vanish Subpoena” and “Accused with Sexual Battery and Fired.”
Before the scandal hit headlines last year, the Zieglers (pictured with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis) were considered a rising power couple in Republican circles.
The couple claims in their filing that releasing the documents would be a violation of their right to privacy under the Florida Constitution.
Their fears over the release of the phone’s contents come after allegations that Christian told his wife to “look” for a partner for a threesome and had a list of women’s names in his phone titled “THE LIST”.
The alleged list also included her rape accuser, who was filed under the subtitle “F***,” cops alleged in a February filing.
When the rape allegations emerged last year, his accuser said it happened after she canceled plans to have sex with the couple.
When detectives first spoke to Christian, he allegedly conducted Google searches on his phone regarding their investigation, including “Sexual Battery Settlement Average,” “Instagram Subpoena” and “Accused of Sexual Battery and Fired “.
Their fears over the publication of their text messages also follow an alleged February 2021 conversation, during which Bridget showed concern for his well-being and suggested they find someone else.
In the reported text message exchange, Christian told his wife to “go home, stop and pick (a woman) up to play again and go crazy.”
It is believed he was referring to the alleged victim who he said “was an alcoholic, nice person with some problems”.
Christian Ziegler was accused of rape in November last year by a woman with whom he and his wife allegedly previously had sex together.
Bridget responded that she was worried the woman was “going through some shit” and “she prefers people who are confident and empowered.”
The documents said Ziegler said he liked the woman to be “close and not have any drama to excite her.”
“I just don’t want to feel like we’re taking advantage of anyone (I know it’s always been consensual) but she seems… ‘broken’ or like she’s going through some shit,” Bridget said .
“I don’t know – that’s the vibe I get from her – and my nature is more likely to help her than… you know.”
Ziegler then suggested they “should look for someone new,” according to police.