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As long as social hierarchies existed, the proximity of sex and power never felt far apart. It should be unsurprising that the same appetite for influence and elevated status manifests frequently as lust. But it’s a hunger that also destroys the legacies of those most prone to seeking satisfaction at any cost. History bears the tales of Henry VII, Alexander Hamilton, Bill Clinton and who, even if their achievements were many, will always be as well known for their personal scandals.

I hesitate a bit in comparing the events unfolding in Sarasota over the past two weeks, largely because an accusation of rape raises the allegations against Christian Ziegler could expose him to be more than a mere hypocrite or cad. But there’s an unmistakable marriage between ambition and impurity.

For those who avoided the seedy political scandal consuming Sarasota’s most prominent powerful couple, I offer a far-from-complete recap. Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler and Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler remain at the edge of political ruin, if not already sliding into the abyss, after publicly admitting to dalliances including a threesome with a Sarasota woman. But Christian stands accused of showing up to a scheduled tryst without Bridget, the party the woman was interested in engaging, but says Christian forced her to have sex with him anyway.

As I write this, new evidence has emerged that may help Christian Ziegler avoid an arrest for rape, courtesy video he took that has now been turned over to police. Some details that don’t meet the breakfast test, but which can be found online with little effort dear reader, at least suggest the encounter lacked the forcefulness hinted at by a search warrant made public a week ago. But questions remain about a string of communication before and after the act, and with an accuser’s state of mind, as well as her consent to have of this captured on camera.

Regardless, if the Zieglers believe any of this will help evade all political fallout, they lack objectivity. Repeatedly, I have heard from political opponents and allies that the accusation of rape may be the most serious, but the salacious details around the couple’s personal lifestyle already delivered fatal blows to their credibility.

The Zieglers built a political brand on social conservatism, from degrading transgender children as psychologically broken to discussing the mere existence of gays and lesbians as too taboo for students to hear. These parents, who won’t let their children attend public schools because they fear the words “White privilege” getting spoken aloud, apparently believe other members of society need to be held to a very different standard than they hold themselves.

Many progressives and libertarians don’t want government having a hand in how they pursue romantic relationships. Many social conservatives, bluntly, do see a role. But for the most past, those who hold sanctimonious views live conservative lives. And honestly, most married people regardless of their political views govern their love lives under stricter guardrails than we learned about this week.

Which raises the question anew why those with so much to lose risk the most. The best answer I can suggest is impunity. Those at the topic of the social ladder often believe they have found a station above mores, or even above the law. In some cases, that may be why they were grasping for the next rung up the whole time.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor of SRQ MEDIA.

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