Consultant Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican identified for his outstanding function in disputing the 2020 election consequence and refusing to concede Donald Trump’s defeat to Joe Biden, fell in need of the mandatory flooring votes on Tuesday to ascend to the place of Home Speaker. Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries acquired essentially the most votes, getting all 212 Democratic votes. Jordan acquired 200 votes whereas former Speaker Kevin McCarthy had 6, with six others additionally having ballots solid of their favor. To win the Speakership, a nominee should obtain 217 votes.
The Home has now been with out a speaker for greater than 14 days, and plenty of political watchers predict a continued and uphill battle for Jordan, a central determine within the Ohio State College scandal, the place former wrestlers have accused him of ignoring sexual abuse throughout his tenure as an assistant wrestling coach within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. With Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) publicly expressing opposition attributable to Jordan’s repeated failure to acknowledge Trump’s loss and different candidates receiving votes, the Home remained with out a speaker after a primary spherical of voting. In January, it took former Speaker Kevin McCarthy an unprecedented 15-rounds earlier than he acquired the assist essential to take over the job.
Whereas Jordan has constantly denied any wrongdoing within the Ohio State matter, the allegations raised in 2018 have clung to his fame, incomes him the epithet “Fitness center Jordan” from critics. He served as an assistant coach at Ohio State College in Columbus from 1986 to 1994, instantly following his commencement. Throughout this era, he pursued superior levels, together with a grasp’s diploma in schooling and a legislation diploma.
In 1994, he transitioned to the Ohio Common Meeting, concluding his time as an assistant coach. Jordan subsequently gained a congressional seat in 2006.
The college’s inquiry into Dr. Richard Strauss, a college doctor, started in April 2018 after former school wrestler Mike DiSabato accused him of sexual misconduct. The investigation concluded in 2019 and revealed that Strauss had sexually abused at the least 177 male college students, together with 48 wrestling workforce members, between 1978 and 1998. The misconduct ranged from inappropriate questioning to overt fondling.
The investigation additionally disclosed that college workers knew about Strauss’ abusive conduct as early as 1979. A restricted inquiry was performed in 1996, after which Strauss retired voluntarily in 1998. Tragically, he took his personal life in 2005. In July 2018, a number of former wrestlers accused Jordan of failing to intervene within the abuse, contending that he was nicely conscious of the state of affairs.
Advocacy group, The Republican Accountability Venture actively campaigned towards Jordan’s nomination, highlighting considerations over the soundness of democracy following the current management upheaval inside the GOP.
In a digital advert, the group emphasised Jordan’s assist for Donald Trump’s baseless claims in regards to the 2020 election and his efforts to hinder the vote’s certification. The commercial underlined the necessity for a Congress presided over by somebody who upholds democracy.
Jordan’s bid confronted inside resistance inside the GOP, with a number of Republican lawmakers hesitating to assist him. Jordan might solely afford to lose 4 Republican votes and nonetheless safe the Speakership.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff voiced his reservations, stating, “Republicans could make Jim Jordan the Speaker… After he was deeply concerned in making an attempt to overturn the final one. Simply once you suppose they’ll’t be extra irresponsible, they show you fallacious.”
Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, expressed disbelief in a now-deleted put up on social media, “I can’t imagine that is taking place after January 6. If Trump can get to a different electoral school, Home Speaker will be capable of subvert votes of the folks/ That is the primary act in revolt 2.0.”
