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WASHINGTON – Representative Jim Jordan faces the kind of scandal that will slowly fall on other politicians, as new accusers argue that the wrestling coach turned politician was aware of sexual misconduct at Ohio State University But like the man that Mr. Jordan stubbornly supports, President Trump, the Ohio Republican has the kind of followers who do not lose faith easily, and they already defend the conservative power, saying that he is the victim of the same conspirators of "deep state" – Liberal bureaucrats embedded in the government – who are trying to overthrow the president
. Jordan, a 54-year-old Congressman for his sixth term, challenged Fox News on Friday night in his first extended response to the emerging accusations. He denigrated some of the former college wrestlers who came forward to say that he knew of allegations that the team's doctor, Richard H. Strauss, had caressed them. He said that he could not explain why other more sympathetic wrestlers had leveled similar charges.
"I have never seen, never heard, never been informed of abuse," said Mr. Jordan, whose trademark in the face of politics has made him the choice for the Speaker of the House by a range of conservative groups. "If I did, I would have dealt with it.A good coach puts the interests of his student-athletes first."
When the show host, Bret Baier, read a quote from a former Ohio State wrestler and star of the ultimate fighting championship, Mark Coleman – dementia has forgotten what happened, the MP offered little
"I'm sorry for him," he said about Mr. Coleman. "Instead, Mr. Jordan continued to fan the conspiracy theories connecting the Emergence of charges in his aggressive interrogation last month of Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, the man that many of Trump's supporters hold responsible
"I think the timing is suspect when we think about the way this whole story came together after the Rosenstein hearing and the president's race, "he said.
Next week will be another great moment for Mr. Jordan: He will be at the center and in the joint hearings of the House with the FBI agent Peter Strzok, the man in the middle of what some see as the federal conspiracy to bring down Mr. Trump.
Prior to this moment, the President gave his full support. "Jim Jordan is one of the most remarkable people I've met since I came to Washington," Trump told reporters on Thursday. "I believe it 100% No question in my mind."
Mr. Jordan was an assistant coach of the Ohio State Wrestling Team in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Meanwhile, Dr. Strauss is accused of taking advantage of the athletes and to have touched them inappropriately. The university announced in April that she had begun investigating the allegations against the doctor, who committed suicide in 2005.
Coleman and four other wrestlers have now said that Mr. Jordan was aware of the abuse but did nothing to stop it. Another former Ohio wrestler, Mike Schyck, said Friday in an interview that he and other former team members were planning to "tell together some things," adding that the scandal only did not concern Mr. Jordan.
wrestlers advance, Mr. Jordan's base has mounted a defense. Conservative news media questioned the motives and veracity of its accusers
One of those accusers, Mike DiSabato, made fun of suggestions that his motivation to call M Jordan was politically or part of a personal vendetta
. There were two choices for Jim when he was asked about this situation: He could have told the truth that he saw him, he was there, he was in the showers and saunas with us ", said Mr. DiSabato, "He could have told the truth and stood with us, or he could have done politics."
Mr. DiSabato said that he was saddened by the response of the member of the Congress
"I'm sorry, I love Jim Jordan, but he can not call me a liar all over the world," said Mr. DiSabato. "He's not getting any good. Call victims of liars from systemic sexual abuse. It's not like he's not in the sauna with us every day being subject to voyeurism. "
The allegations cast a cloud over the Congressman at a time when he is ascending." Mr. Jordan emerged as one of the most loyal advocates of the President, helping to conduct a Republican counter-inquiry. FBI and Justice Department officials investigating potential links between the Trump campaign and the interference of Russian elections One of the founders of the House Freedom Caucus, Mr. Jordan, was also proposed as a possible successor to President Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, who announced that he would retire at the end of the year.
Some of his supporters have suggested that Mr. Jordan's accusers do also part of a "deep" conspiracy to derail his political future.
"Jim Jordan goes against the powerful interests of the FBI and a deep state to expose them and hold them accountable for their crimes ", a twe Mike Tokes, one of the founders of The New Right, a conservative political organization. "Now, all of a sudden, is there a smear campaign focused on him in a deliberate attempt to discredit his work? The American people know better."
His supporters tried to accumulate evidence of this conspiracy. One of the key points of discussion, which Mr. Jordan spoke about Friday night, is the choice of Ohio State's retained investigative law firm in the Strauss case. . The company, Perkins Coie, worked for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, and helped pay for a record of unconfirmed accusations linking Donald Trump's campaign to services. Russian secrets
. The motivation of the accusers and reviewed their "summary history," indicating that one of the accusers served an 18-month jail term for a fraudulent scheme.
Jordan attempted to discredit his accusers, especially Mr. DiSabato, and his office sent press statements to prominent world figures who defended the Republican Ohio, including the US. former coach of the team.
The widow of a state fighter condemned Mr. DiSabato as "vindictive and manipulative", citing a dispute that she had with him on a memorial fund set up in the name of his husband
"I tell my truth, to defend the service of Jim Jordan – including his family – and all that they have given and represented in this country," said the statement. "I question the intention, the authenticity, the truth, that Mike DiSabato shares in ANY of his words or actions."
Other Republicans took a fresher tone, either remaining silent on the allegations or offering deaf statements. "The university has legitimately opened a full investigation into the case," said a spokesman for Mr. Ryan in a statement. "The speaker will wait for the conclusions of this investigation."
As Congress prepares to return to Capitol Hill next week, Mr. Jordan said Friday that he would continue to maintain his innocence.
"What bothers me the most," he said, "is that those athletes with whom you spent so much time are saying things that are not true."
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