Trump-backed governor slammed for ties to accused sex offenders

Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) was slammed by columnist Chris Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Friday over his political reliance on a pair of Republican figures who are both accused of sexual offenses.

One of those figures is Christian Ziegler, the Florida Republican Party chair who is facing a rapidly-expanding police investigation into allegations he committed rape. His wife Bridget is a high-ranking figure in Moms for Liberty, the far-right group known for working arm in arm with the Proud Boys to censor racial and sexual content in schools.

"Landry's campaign paid Microtargeted Media — Ziegler's Sarasota-based company that delivers social media ads to select voters — a whopping $954,298.57, the majority of which Ziegler received on two dates, according to campaign finance expenditure records from the Louisiana Ethics Commission," wrote Anderson.

The other figure is former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, he continued.

Lewandowski's presence working on Landry's campaign, Anderson noted, "rankled some people. Included was a big GOP donor named John Odom, who gave $100,000 to Landry … and then wanted it back. That's because in 2021, at a dinner in Las Vegas, Odom's then-wife alleged Lewandowski made unwanted sexual advances toward her. Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanor battery and avoided admitting guilt by taking a plea deal."

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And all of this is coming out as Landry makes clear he wants to curtail transgender medical rights and LGBTQ public expression, all in the name of protecting children from sexual harm.

"Ziegler, who has refused to step down from his GOP position even though he has the confidence of no one, is likely to be voted out of his spot next week," wrote Anderson. "There is no way he can raise money for the party now. His business is likely to be impacted too."