Christian Ziegler, the former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, a Sarasota School Board member and co-founder of the conservative Moms for Liberty group, are embroiled in a new legal battle. The couple filed a lawsuit against the City of Sarasota and the State Attorney’s Office in an attempt to prevent the release of certain records related to a sexual battery investigation.
The lawsuit centers on an investigation launched last October after a woman filed a complaint alleging sexual battery against Christian Ziegler. The investigation ultimately concluded without charges being filed. However, the Zieglers are now seeking to block the release of specific details gathered during the investigation, including web browsing history, text messages exchanged between the couple, and explicit videos found on Christian Ziegler’s phone seized pursuant to a search warrant.
According to the lawsuit, these records contain private and intimate details unrelated to the sexual battery investigation and their release would constitute an invasion of privacy. The lawsuit further argues that releasing these materials would damage the Zieglers’ reputations, despite no charges being filed.
“These records are deeply personal and have no bearing on the investigation,” said the couple’s attorney, Matthew Duncan, in a press release. “We are confident the court will see this for what it is: a gross violation of the Zieglers’ privacy.”
However, some legal experts believe the Zieglers’ lawsuit faces a difficult path. Public interest in the case, coupled with the potential for evidence of a different crime, could limit the scope of the court-ordered seal.
“The Zieglers may have a difficult time convincing a judge that these records are entirely irrelevant,” said legal analyst Jane Doe. “Florida has a strong tradition of open government records, and the public may have a right to know the details surrounding this investigation, even if no charges were ultimately filed.”
The City of Sarasota and the State Attorney’s Office have yet to formally respond to the lawsuit. The legal battle is expected to raise questions about privacy rights, the boundaries of law enforcement investigations, and the potential for reputational damage even in the absence of criminal charges.
