Jacob Ogles
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz came to the defense of House colleague Jim Jordan, who faces accusations of covering up sexual abuse on the Ohio State University wrestling team.
“How is Jim Jordan supposed to prove that he didn’t know something 28 years ago? Could any of us?” Gaetz tweeted Saturday.
Instead, Gaetz alleged the accusations were part of a smear campaign to distract from the FBI’s own embarrassments in mishandling a Russian collusion investigation. “This is a deliberate attempt to knock the best oversight member of Congress off his game the week [Peter] Strzok is scheduled to testify,” he continued.
How is Jim Jordan supposed to prove that he didn’t know something 28 years ago? Could any of us? This is a deliberate attempt to knock the best oversight member of Congress off his game the week Strzok is scheduled to testify.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) July 6, 2018
Gaetz voiced his support the same day House Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows called on members to publicly defend Jordan, according to CNN. Jordan, an Ohio Republican, founded the caucus in 2015.
The Washington Post reported Sunday a seventh former wrestler is accusing Jordan of knowing of sexual misconduct by athletic doctor Richard Strauss in the late 1980s and failing to report it.
Jordan worked as an assistant wrestling coach at the school from 1987 to 1995. Strauss died in 2005.
Strzok, the FBI agent referenced in Gaetz’s tweet, will testify Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, according to CBS. Strzok will discuss his involvement into the 2016 probes into Hillary Clinton’s email use and potential Russian meddling in the presidential election.
An Inspector General’s report last month spotlighted a text message exchange between Strzok and fellow agent Lisa Page, with whom he was romantically involved.
Page texted Strzok that Trump was “not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” Strzok responded “No. No, he’s not. We’ll stop it.”
Gaetz on Saturday also retweeted a Fox News report where Jordan denied being aware of any sexual abuse.
Jordan in the interview said the law firm making sexual abuse allegations was connected to the Steele dossier, a controversial piece of opposition research alleging connections between President Donald Trump and Russian officials.
