We knew that Jim Jordan is one of the most abusive members of the House of Representatives. We knew that he chose a role as a shill for Donald Trump, and that Jordan has — with gleeful cruelty — unfairly grilled Department of Justice and FBI witnesses and unfairly tarred both organizations. It was just a few days ago that, on national TV, Jim Jordan unfairly verbally abused the Deputy Attorney General, along with FBI Director Christopher Wray, for faithfully doing their jobs.
Jordan served as assistant wrestling coach of the Ohio State wrestling team for eight years, from 1986 to 1994. During that time, the team physician, Dr. Richard Strauss, sexually abused team members through inappropriate touching and other behavior. It was an open secrtet among team members, who claim it is impossible that Jordan did not know about it. NBC was the first to report, early today, that wretsling team members accuse Jordan of knowing of the sexual abuse and ignoring it. www.nbcnews.com/… Jordan today denied that he knew about it. www.politico.com/... Team members say he is lying, former team wrestler Mike DiSabato stating “I considered Jim Jordan a friend,” DiSabato said. “But at the end of the day, he is absolutely lying if he says he doesn’t know what was going on.” Two other members of the wrestling team reported the same thing.
Dr. Strauss killed himself 13 years ago. www.nytimes.com/...
Until now, it was unclear how the media would report this explosive story about one of the most powerful members of Congress, one mentioned prominently as a possible successor to Paul Ryan as Republican Leader or (if the GOP maintains control of the House of Representatives) Speaker of the House. Now it is taking shape. Here is how the New York Times (by-line Amy Harmon and Thomas Kaplan) is reporting the story tonight, www.nytimes.com/...:
Sexual Abuse Accusations at Ohio State Could Tar Powerful Republican
A news report on Tuesday accusing Representative Jim Jordan of ignoring accusations of sexual abuse as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University has left a cloud over the powerful congressman as conservative activists put him forward as potentially the next speaker of the House.
The university announced in April that it had started and investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct against a former team physician, Dr. Richard Strauss, who killed himself in 2005.
. . . three former wrestlers said it was commonly known that Dr. Strauss showered with students and touched them inappropriately during appointments, and that Mr. Jordan, an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1986 to 1994, must have known about the abuse. Mr. Jordan, a Republican, has denied that.
“Jim knew this — there’s no ifs, ands or buts,” Michael DiSabato, one of the former wrestlers named in the NBC account, said Tuesday in an interview. “It boggles my mind that he would take the position that he’s taken.”
. . .
Doug Andres, a spokesman for Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, said: “These are serious allegations and issues. The university has rightfully initiated a full investigation into the matter. The speaker will await the findings of that inquiry.”
Mr. Jordan is one of the most prominent conservatives in Congress. With Mr. Ryan retiring at the end of the year, Mr. Jordan was likely to emerge as an important figure as House Republicans consider their next leader. Conservative groups have urged him to run for speaker, and although his elevation to that post was considered unlikely, he and other Freedom Caucus members were expected to influence the selection of Mr. Ryan’s successor.
New coverage of this story bears close watching. Jordan was not only the most diabolically effective Trump shill in Congres, but one prominently mentioned as the next GOP leader. The New York Times, being one of the best and the most followed news organization in the nation, often sets the tone. I no longer think that Jordan can wait until this blows over.
A college team coach has a grave responsibility “in loco parentis,” in place of a parent. He had those kids in his charge. It is worth remembering that in the Jerry Sandusky scandal, certain other officials that knew what was going on and looked the other way went to jail — that included the Penn State University President Graham Spanier. That will not happen here, as the abuse appears to be of a lesser order, but this is serious business.
The statement from Paul Ryan’s office, quoted in the Times article, was guarded and does not look like a whitewash. It is likely that other Ohio State wrestlers, who were there when Jordan and Strauss were there, will come forward and provide more information. Jim Jordan’s world changed today, and not for the better.