Tornado Alley (PROG)

[CC Writer]

I wonder why the press went after Jordan, the assistant coach, and did not accuse the head coach of OSU during that time frame.

Jim Jordan 'emboldened' as wrestlers, lawmakers rush to his aid

Rep. Jim Jordan was defiant on Tuesday after top Republican lawmakers and former Ohio State University wrestlers defended him in the face of allegations that he turned a blind eye to sexual abuse by the doctor for the wrestling team at the school.

A week after the initial report alleging that the Republican Ohio lawmaker declined to report wrongdoing by Dr. Richard Strauss, eight former wrestlers have argued that Jordan knew or should have known something was wrong, and did nothing. But Jordan insisted late Tuesday that he was never aware of anything approaching sexual abuse that required him to take action.

"I feel emboldened because the truth is on our side. It's the truth — that's why I feel emboldened," Jordan told reporters late Tuesday night after the House Freedom Caucus convened for its weekly meeting. "All kinds of wrestlers and six coaches yesterday said the same thing I've said, and the reason they did all that is because it's true."
Republicans are running out of time
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Hours earlier, 15 former Ohio State wrestlers were speaking out to “repudiate the false claims” against Jordan and back the former assistant coach of the wrestling program. This came a day after six former Ohio State wrestling coaches publicly backed Jordan, including Russ Hellickson, a former head coach at the school.

Jordan also has earned key support from from House GOP leadership members, such as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., as lawmakers returned to Washington. While House Freedom Caucus members have been unanimous in their support for Jordan, other members have been slow to react to the news, which emerged July 3 while members were back in their districts.

“Jim and I came into Congress together 12 years ago and I have always found him to be a good and honest man,” McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday. “I believe Jim when he says if faced with charges of abuse, he absolutely would have acted.”

McCarthy’s statement echoed Scalise’s, who was the first member of House leadership to publicly support the embattled Ohio conservative. When Jordan arrived in the chamber for votes Tuesday, Scalise was the second one to greet Jordan, according to the Washington Post.

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, also spoke out in support of the Ohio Republican. He called Jordan an "honest person," but noted that he has not talked to Jordan personally about the allegations.

"I tend to believe Jim Jordan. He's an honest person," said Brady earlier Tuesday. "He wouldn't accept that if it was happening around him."

Jordan also stepped up his response to the ongoing series of allegations. He hired Shirley & Banister Public Affairs firm, a group known for communications work for prominent conservatives, to help manage the onslaught of attacks against him, according to Politico. A website, StandWithJimJordan.com, also has taken to defending the conservative lawmaker and is already filled with supportive statements from lawmakers and the Ohio State wrestlers and coaches.

In addition, the House Freedom Caucus doubled down in their support for the group's founder. In a tweet late Tuesday, the group said they stand with him "100 percent." Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., also said that they support him unanimously.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/jim-jordan-emboldened-as-wrestlers-lawmakers-rush-to-his-aid