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1 Florida Republican Party Suspends Chairman Amid Rape Investigation
There was a major development in the continuing drama inside the Republican party of Florida over the weekend. The party suspended its chairman, Christian Ziegler, during an emergency meeting yesterday in which they demanded that he resign. Ziegler is accused of raping a woman who he and his wife, Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, had a previous consensual sexual relationship according to court records. The Sarasota Police Department is investigating the woman’s accusation that Ziegler raped her at her apartment in October, but he says he’s innocent and that the encounter was consensual. Christian Ziegler hasn’t been charged with a crime, but that hasn’t slowed down the criticism directed toward him. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, Rep. Matt Gaetz, and the Republican leaders of Florida’s House and Senate have all called for Ziegler to resign. His wife Bridget is also an elected member of the Sarasota School Board and was asked by the board to resign last week, a request she refused.
2 Senate Negotiations Continued Through The Weekend On Immigration, Foreign Aid
The Senate was staying in Washington to continue negotiations on a deal that would combine immigration measures with aid for Ukraine and Israel, and that included working through the weekend. Senators were joined over the weekend by top Biden administration officials including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who made his second appearance in the talks late yesterday afternoon. Sen. Lindsey Graham said on “Meet the Press” yesterday that Republicans and Democrats aren’t “anywhere close to a deal,” although he did admit that progress was being made. However, Graham also predicted that the discussions would continue into the new year. The House adjourned for the holidays last week and won’t return to Washington until January 8th, which some Republicans are saying is the earliest date a deal could be reached.
3 Three Injured In Downtown Austin Shooting, Suspect Dead
Three people were injured in a shooting involving police in downtown Austin, Texas on Saturday night. Police were called to a bar on 6th Street on a report that someone was trying to enter the bar with a gun. When the suspect was confronted by police, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at the three officers, who fired at the suspect, killing him. Three other people were shot in the incident, one with critical injuries. It hasn’t been revealed if the three people were shot by the suspect or the police.