Kevin McCarthy’s Corrupt Bargain couldn’t save him from being voted off the island this week. Now, some Republicans are calling to remove House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer as head of their baseless impeachment inquiry, they want House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan in charge instead. Though, Jim Jordan is one of two people currently running for House Speaker. Both Jordan and Steve Scalise want to be McCarthy’s Corrupt Bargain successor, but they both have a troubling record they should have to answer for.
First, there is Jim Jordan, who not only defied a subpoena served to him by the House January 6th committee, but who has used his authority time and time again to protect former President Trump. He has launched investigations into the officials who have indicted Trump, including the state-level officials. In addition to protecting someone facing 91 felony counts, in 2018, multiple former Ohio State University wrestlers accused Jim Jordan of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse and misconduct they faced while Jordan was the assistant coach. One former wrestler even testified to the Ohio House Civil Justice Committee that Jordan had called him “crying” and begged him to deny allegations that the team doctor’s abuse was common knowledge among those in the program, including Jordan. Jordan’s former OSU colleague even tried to pressure ex-team members to support Jordan’s denial of the allegations.
Next, we have Steve Scalise, who was one of 147 House Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. That’s not even the most scandalous thing about him though. Once, Scalise reportedly described himself to a Louisiana reporter as “David Duke without the baggage.” Yes, the same David Duke who led the Ku Klux Klan. That’s not a surprise though because, in 2002, Scalise reportedly spoke to an antisemitic, white supremacist group run by David Duke. Scalise was reportedly personally invited to speak by Duke’s longtime political advisor, Kenny Knight, who was once Scalise’s neighbor and contributed $1,000 to Scalise’s 2008 congressional campaign.
Finally, in a move that surprised absolutely no one, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been leading the charge to make former President Trump the next House Speaker. One thing is for certain: House Republicans continue to use their majority to settle partisan political scores and petty squabbles instead of solving the issues facing the American people.
Corrupt Bargain Republicans Want To Vacate James Comer As Head Of Their Baseless Impeachment Stunt
Raw Story: “GOPers Ready To Give Impeachment Lead To Jim Jordan After Failed James Comer Hearing”
MSNBC: “Republicans Eye ‘Reset’ After Failed Impeachment Inquiry Hearing”
Some House Republican Were Reportedly Pushing To Take The Biden Inquiry Away From House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer And Give It To House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan. “SCOOP: REPUBLICANS TURN ON COMER — After a dud of a first impeachment hearing Thursday, some House Republicans are pushing to take the Biden inquiry away from House Oversight Chair JAMES COMER (R-Ky.) and put it in the hands of Judiciary Chairman JIM JORDAN (R-Ohio), Playbook has learned. ‘People are just not happy,’ a senior GOP aide said, adding that Jordan, on the other hand, ‘been tested on this stuff’ because he led Republicans through Trump’s impeachments.” [Politico, Playbook, 9/30/23]
- Dan Bishop Was Pushing For The House Judiciary Committee To Take Over Republicans’ Impeachment Inquiry. “Some Republicans aren’t sure they should be given a chance. They argue not only that Jordan is more experienced, but that the Judiciary panel is a better home for the probe. ‘It’s just a place that impeachment inquiries have traditionally gone,’ said Rep. DAN BISHOP (R-N.C.), a Judiciary member pushing for a Jordan takeover.” [Politico, Playbook, 9/30/23]
- Lauren Boebert And Matt Gaetz Reportedly Complained About The Witnesses James Comer Brought To Testify To Their First Impeachment Hearing. “Among those griping are a crop of hardliners — including Oversight member LAUREN BOEBERT (R-Colo.) and Gaetz, who sits on Judiciary — who spent much of Thursday night complaining to colleagues that two of Comer’s witnesses testified that they did not yet see evidence of Biden committing high crimes and misdemeanors. A broader group has been vexed by Comer’s decision to hold a hearing with outside experts, not fact witnesses with new Biden bombshells. ‘I wasn’t thrilled with the witnesses,’ Boebert acknowledged to Playbook, adding that she thinks the Oversight Committee will improve.” [Politico, Playbook, 9/30/23]
The Nation: “This Might Be The Most Cringeworthy ‘Impeachment’ Inquiry In US History”
Jim Jordan Uses His Authority To Protect Donald Trump And Faced Allegations He Turned A Blind Eye To Abuse
MULTIPLE FORMER OHIO STATE WRESTLERS ACCUSED JIM JORDAN OF TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE THAT OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH
At Least Five Former Ohio State Wrestlers Accused Jim Jordan Of “Turning A Blind Eye” To Sexual Abuse Athletes Faced At Ohio State University During Jordan’s Time As An Assistant Coach – Jordan Has Denied The Allegations. “Rep. Jim Jordan, one of the most powerful conservatives in the House, has been accused by at least five men of turning a blind eye to the sexual abuse of possibly more than 1,000 athletes and students, when he was the assistant coach of the wrestling team at Ohio State from 1986 to 1994. Jordan’s response: deny the allegations and raise questions about his accusers’ intents. ‘Look, the timing makes you wonder,’ Jordan told CNN at a July 4 event. ‘All I know is, it’s not true. … It’s interesting that the timing is what it is, in light of things that are going on in Washington.’” [Vox, 7/7/18]
- HEADLINE: “Six Former Wrestlers Say Rep. Jim Jordan Knew About Abusive OSU Doctor” [CNN, 3/6/20]
- A Seventh Athlete Came Forward To Accuse Jordan Of Knowing About The Abuse While Others Said He Did Not. “A seventh former Ohio State University wrestler said Saturday that he believes Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) knew about inappropriate behavior that allegedly took place in the school’s athletic department three decades ago, as two more former team members came to Jordan’s defense. David Range, who wrestled for Ohio State in the late 1980s, said Jordan had to have known about alleged sexual misconduct by Richard Strauss, an athletic doctor whose behavior is under investigation by the school, because it happened regularly to team members and people talked about it. Jordan has denied he knew, saw or heard about any inappropriate behavior while he was an assistant wrestling coach from 1987 to 1995. ‘Jordan definitely knew that these things were happening — yes, most definitely,’ Range told The Washington Post. ‘It was there. He knew about it because it was an everyday occurrence.’” [Washington Post, 7/7/18]
Jordan Reportedly Dismissed The Abuse Accusations And Normalized A Dangerous Environment For His Students
A College Referee Said He Told Jim Jordan About Sexual Misconduct Committed By The Ohio State Wrestling Team Doctor, But That Jordan Shrugged It Off And Said, “Yeah, That’s Strauss.” “A college wrestling referee claimed in a new lawsuit that he told Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, two decades ago that an Ohio State University team doctor who has been accused of sexually assaulting students had masturbated in the shower in front of him. But Jordan, who at the time was an assistant Ohio State wrestling coach — and then OSU head coach Russ Hellickson, who was also told about the incident — just shrugged off the shocking claim about Dr. Richard Strauss, the suit says. Jordan and Hellickson responded, ‘Yeah, that’s Strauss,’ according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Columbus, Ohio.” [CNBC, 11/9/19]
- Richard Strauss Was Accused Of Abusing At Least 177 People During His Tenure As The Ohio State University Wrestling Team’s Doctor. “A university study found that Strauss abused at least 177 people during his tenure as the wrestling team’s doctor. Strauss was never charged and died by suicide in 2005.” [Sports Illustrated, 2/12/20]
Jordan Denied Hearing Anything Regarding Sexual Abuse Or Misconduct And Claimed “Conversations In A Locker Room Are A Lot Different Than People Coming Up And Talking About Abuse.” “‘Conversations in a locker room are a lot different than people coming up and talking about abuse,’ Jordan told Fox. Asked later whether he heard wrestlers talking about misconduct that fell short of the common definition of sexual abuse at the time but that could be considered abuse today, Jordan issued a flat denial, saying he ‘did not, did not’ hear anything.” [Washington Post, 7/7/18]
- The Building Where The Wrestling Team Showered Was A Known Target For People Wanting To “Ogle” Team Members. “Larkins Hall, the building that housed athletic teams, became such a well-known target that people who frequented it at the time have reminisced in anonymous postings online how easy it was to ogle naked members of the wrestling team. The situation was so egregious that former wrestling head coach Russ Hellickson would at times have to physically drag the gawkers out of the building, several sources familiar with his actions at the time said. Hellickson also pleaded with the university multiple times to move their athletes to a private facility, the sources said. Jordan served as Hellickson’s No. 2, and the coach has been described as Jordan’s mentor.” [Politico, 7/6/18]
One Former Wrestler, Adam DiSabato, Told The Ohio House Civil Justice Committee That Jordan Called Him “Crying” And Begged DiSabato To Deny Jordan’s Complicity In The Abuse
Adam DiSabato, A Former OSU Wrestling Team Captain Said Jordan Called Him “Crying” And Begged Him To Deny His Brother’s Allegations That The Team Doctor’s Abuse Was Common Knowledge Among Those In The Program, Including To Jordan. “Adam DiSabato, a former Ohio State University wrestling team captain, said during a State House bill hearing Tuesday that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) called him ‘crying,’ begging him to deny that Jordan and other team officials were aware that open-shower team facilities facilitated sexual assault. DiSabato told members of the House Civil Justice Committee that Jordan called him repeatedly in 2018 after his brother, Michael DiSabato, publicly claimed that the sexual abuse of late team doctor Richard Strauss was common knowledge to those in the wrestling program, including Jordan.” [Daily Beast, 2/12/20]
- DiSabato Sued OSU Over Allegations It Ignored The Team Doctor’s Abuse And Said Jordan’s Phone Call Was Proof Of A “Cover-Up.” “’Jim Jordan called me crying, groveling… begging me to go against my brother…That’s the kind of cover-up that’s going on there,’ said DiSabato, who is among the former university wrestlers who have sued the school alleging it ignored Strauss’ abuse.” [Daily Beast, 2/12/20]
DiSabato Told Members Of The Ohio House Civil Justice Committee That Jim Jordan And Other Team Officials Knew About Open-Shower Team Facilities That Facilitated Sexual Harassment And Abuse Of Team Wrestlers. “Adam DiSabato, a former captain of the OSU wrestling team during the late 80s and early 90s, told members of the House Civil Justice Committee that Jordan and other team officials knew about open-shower team facilities that facilitated sexual harassment and abuse of team wrestlers, an allegation Jordan has denied.” [Cleveland, 2/11/20]
Jordan’s Former OSU Colleagues Tried To Pressure Ex-Team Members To Back Jordan’s Denial Of The Allegations And Tried To “Intimidate And Retaliate” Against Those Who Came Forward
The Former OSU Wrestling Team Head Coach Reportedly Reached Out To Two Former Team Members On Behalf Of Jordan And Asked Them To Support Jordan. “Retired Ohio State wrestling coach Russ Hellickson reached out to two ex-team members and asked them to support their former assistant coach, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a day after they accused the powerful congressman of turning a blind eye to alleged sexual abuse by the team doctor, according to the wrestlers and text messages they shared with NBC News. The former wrestlers said their ex-coach made it clear to them he was under pressure from Jordan to get statements of support from members of the team.” [NBC News, 8/1/18]
Mike DiSabato Stated In A Title IX Lawsuit Against Ohio State University That Jim Jordan’s Second Cousin Aimed To “Intimidate And Retaliate” Against Him For Speaking Out Publicly. “In May 2019, Mike DiSabato stated in a Title IX lawsuit against Ohio State that Jordan’s second cousin aimed to ‘intimidate and retaliate’ against him for speaking out publicly. Later that year, Jordan, his younger brother and another former wrestling coach were accused of witness tampering and intimidation in their attempt to suppress accusations from a former wrestler, according to NBC News.” [Sports Illustrated, 2/12/20]
Jim Jordan Has Denied All Wrongdoing
Jordan Has Denied All Wrongdoing And President Donald Trump Who Spoke In Favor Of Jordan. “Jordan, who has represented Ohio’s 4th congressional district since 2007, was once a contender for speaker of the House. He has denied all wrongdoing. President Donald Trump is among those who have spoken out in favor of the embattled legislator.” [Sports Illustrated, 2/12/20]
JIM JORDAN HAS USED HIS AUTHORITY IN CONGRESS AS A WAY TO PROTECT DONALD TRUMP
HEADLINE: “House GOP Uses Its New Power In Extraordinary Effort To Shield Trump From Indictment” [CNN, 3/21/23]
Chairmen Jim Jordan, James Comer, And Bryan Steil Sent A Letter To DA Bragg Accusing Him Of “Actions [That] Will Erode Confidence In The Evenhanded Application Of Justice And Unalterably Interfere In The Course Of The 2024 Presidential Election’” “House Republicans followed through with a pledge to investigate Bragg over claims of a politicized judicial process — but the probe is still in its infancy. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), James Comer (R-Ky.) and Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) — the chairs of the Judiciary, Oversight and Administration committees — fired off a letter to Bragg accusing him of ‘actions [that] will erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice and unalterably interfere in the course of the 2024 presidential election’ if Trump is indicted.” [Politico, 3/21/23]
- Trump’s Lawyer, Joe Tacopina, Wrote To Chairman Jim Jordan Calling On Congress To Investigate The “Abuse Of Power’ From A “Rogue Local District Attorney.” “Still, Mr. Trump’s lawyers have quietly urged the Republican-led House to interfere. Last month, Mr. Trump’s lawyer Joseph Tacopina wrote to Mr. Jordan calling on Congress to investigate the ‘egregious abuse of power’ by what he called a ‘rogue local district attorney,’ according to a copy of the letter obtained by The New York Times.” [New York Times, 3/20/23]
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan Launched An Inquiry Into Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Office, Which Was Investigating Former President Trump. “House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced Thursday that he’s launching an inquiry into special counsel Jack Smith’s office over accusations of prosecutorial abuse. Driving the news: Jordan said in a letter that he launched an inquiry into Jay Bratt, one of Smith’s senior prosecutors and top aides, over allegations that Bratt improperly pressured Stanley Woodward, the lawyer for Trump aide Walt Nauta who was indicted by the special counsel.”
- In Response To Former President Trump’s Third Indictment Jim Jordan Tweeted: “When You Drain The Swamp, The Swamp Fights Back. President Trump Did Nothing Wrong! [Rep. Jim Jordan, Twitter, 8/1/23]
- House Judiciary GOP’s Twitter Page Claimed President Trump “Did Nothing Wrong” After He Was Indicted A Third Time, And Accused The Department Of Justice Of Indicting Him To Protect President Biden. “Joe Biden’s DOJ: ✅ Indict President Trump — who did nothing wrong. ❌ Sweetheart deal for Hunter Biden — who did everything wrong.” [House Judiciary GOP, Twitter, 8/1/23]
HEADLINE: “Fulton County DA Slams Jim Jordan’s Investigation Into Her Prosecution Of Trump And His Allies” [CNN, 9/7/23]
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan Sent Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis A Letter Demanding Information About Her Investigation Into Former President Trump And His Allies Over Their Efforts To Overturn The 2020 Election Results. “Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis delivered a scathing response to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan’s demands for information about her investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, slamming the Republican for trying to ‘interfere with an active criminal case,’ according to a new letter issued on Thursday. Willis, a Democrat, condemned Jordan’s investigation into her case against former President Donald Trump and his allies. She said the Jordan probe’s ‘obvious purpose is to obstruct a Georgia criminal proceeding and to advance outrageous partisan misrepresentations.’ […] CNN has reached out to Jordan’s office for comment. In a letter to Willis last month, Jordan, an Ohio Republican, laid out why he believes his panel has jurisdiction over the state-level probe and accused Willis of being politically motivated, noting she set up a new campaign fundraising website days before the indictment came down and complained that she required mugshots for those charged – including Trump – which had not been the practice in his previous three indictments.” [CNN, 9/7/23]
Multiple Sources Have Confirmed Trump And Jordan Speak Regularly
March 2023: Multiple Sources Confirmed With CNN That President Trump And Jim Jordan Spoke Regularly – A Jordan Spokesperson Didn’t Deny The Allegations And Referred To It As “Regular Order.” “Multiple sources tell CNN that Trump and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan speak regularly but declined to divulge whether those conversations included Jordan’s investigative efforts. ‘Conversations among concerned parties about issues facing the country are not news and regular order in Congress,’ Jordan’s spokesperson Russell Dye said in a statement to CNN.” [CNN, 3/29/23]
Jordan Has Already Said Republicans Would Use Investigative Oversight To Frame The 2024 Election And “Make Sure [Trump] Wins
August 2022: While Referencing How Republicans Would Use Investigative Oversight, Jim Jordan Said, “That Will Help Frame Up The 2024 Race, When I Hope And I Think President Trump Is Going To Run Again. And We Need To Make Sure That He Wins.” “But other Republicans are more open in depicting their broader oversight as a way to tee up a 2024 election where they hope to win back the White House ‘That will help frame up the 2024 race, when I hope and I think President Trump is going to run again. And we need to make sure that he wins,’ Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who’s set to chair the Judiciary Committee under a 2023 GOP majority, said at a CPAC conference in Texas late last week.” [Politico, 8/10/22]
REP. JIM JORDAN DEFIED A SUBPOENA SERVED TO HIM BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEED THAT INVESTIGATED JANUARY 6TH
Rep. Jim Jordan Refused To Cooperate With The House January 6th Committee Even Though It Served Him With A Subpoena. “In the last Congress, when Democrats controlled the gavel, Jordan refused to cooperate with the House January 6 committee, despite being served with a subpoena. His involvement in Trump’s machinations has been widely reported. He is known, for instance, to have spoken with the then president on the morning of the riot.” [The Guardian, 10/4/23]
Steve Scalise Voted Against Certifying The 2020 Election Results And Once Called Himself “David Duke Without The Baggage”
STEVE SCALISE VOTED AGAINST CERTIFYING THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS
Steve Scalise Voted Against Certifying The 2020 Election Results. “Guidry said he will be happy to pony up the maximum again this year despite sharp criticism of Scalise over the past 10 days, after the House Minority Whip cast a controversial vote to overturn Joe Biden’s election and also failed to join many other Republicans in condemning Trump even while he condemned the ‘anarchists’ that attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6. Scalise also voted with virtually all Republicans against impeaching President Donald Trump.” [The Advocate, 1/16/21]
STEVE SCALISE HAS A TROUBLING HISTORY WITH WHITE SUPREMACISTS
Steve Scalise Once Reportedly Described Himself As “David Duke Without The Baggage”
Steve Scalise Reportedly Told A Louisiana Reporter That He Was “Like David Duke Without The Baggage.” “Stephanie Grace, a Louisiana political reporter and columnist for the past 20 years, first with The Times-Picayune in New Orleans and now The Advocate of Baton Rouge, recalled her first meeting with Mr. Scalise. ‘He was explaining his politics and we were in this getting-to-know-each-other stage,’ Ms. Grace said. ‘He told me he was like David Duke without the baggage. I think he meant he supported the same policy ideas as David Duke, but he wasn’t David Duke, that he didn’t have the same feelings about certain people as David Duke did.’” [New York Times, 1/1/15]
In 2002, Steve Scalise Spoke To An Antisemitic, White Supremacist Group Run By Former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke
2002: Steve Scalise Gave A Speech To The European-American Unity And Rights Organization (EURO), An Antisemitic And White Supremacist Group Run By Former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke. “It turns out Scalise addressed an anti-Semitic, white supremacist group back in 2002 run by none other than David Duke, a former grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan who is well-known in Scalise’s home state of Louisiana because of several statewide campaigns for governor and senator. A liberal Louisiana politics blogger revealed the encounter with the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO) after finding an account of Scalise’s speech to the group on a white supremacist forum.” [CNN, 12/31/14]
Former KKK Leader David Duke Even Claimed That His Close Advisor, Kenny Knight, Spoke With Scalise A Lot, And Knight Personally Invited Scalise To The Event
HEADLINE: “Former KKK Leader Says His Political Adviser Was ‘Friendly’ With Rep. Scalise” [Washington Post, 12/30/14]
Longtime David Duke Advisor Kenny Knight Said He Used To Be Neighbors With Steve Scalise And Personally Invited Scalise To Speak At The EURO Event. “With only one aide on his staff, Scalise conceded the regular vetting process fell through. And Kenny Knight, a longtime advisor to Duke, said he invited Scalise (who was his neighbor at the time) personally and insisted in an interview with the Washington Post that ‘I don’t think Scalise knew anything about EURO.’ Knight said he and Scalise were friendly and Scalise knew him as the head of ‘our civic association,’ but that they ‘wouldn’t talk about race or the Jewish question.’” [CNN, 12/31/14]
David Duke Claimed Steve Scalise “Would Communicate A Lot” With His Campaign Manager, Kenny Knight. “Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke said late Monday that his longtime political adviser, Kenny Knight, was ‘friendly’ with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) in 2002, and cited that relationship as the reason Scalise accepted an invitation that year to speak at a gathering of white supremacists. ‘Scalise would communicate a lot with my campaign manager, Kenny Knight,’ Duke said in a phone interview. ‘That is why he was invited and why he would come. Kenny knew Scalise, Scalise knew Kenny. They were friendly.’” [Washington Post, 12/30/14]
Former KKK Leader David Duke’s Close Advisor Kenny Knight Gave $1,000 To Steve Scalise’s 2008 Congressional Campaign
David Duke Close Advisor Kenny Knight Contributed $1,000 To Steve Scalise’s 2008 Congressional Campaign. “Knight, who has been a confidant of Duke for decades and has long been seen as Duke’s liaison in state politics, would go on to donate $1000 to Scalise’s 2008 congressional campaign, according to federal election records. Duke confirmed that the address listed in federal records along with the Scalise donation was the home address for his political confidant.” [Washington Post, 12/30/14]
Marjorie Taylor Greene Brings The Corrupt Bargain Full Circle And Leads The Effort To Make Donald Trump Speaker Of The House
The Hill: “Greene Says Trump The Only Candidate For Speaker She Is Supporting”
- Troy Nehls And Greg Steube Said They Supported Making Former President Trump The New House Speaker. “Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) announced late Tuesday that he will file paperwork to nominate Trump for the role. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) also said he would back Trump for Speaker.” [The Hill, 10/4/23]
The Independent: “Marjorie Taylor Greene Leads Plan To Make Trump Next House Speaker”
After Successfully Booting Kevin McCarthy From The Speakership, Matt Gaetz Might Get Voted Off The Island Too
SOME HOUSE REPUBLICANS WERE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING TRYING TO EXPEL REP. MATT GAETZ FROM CONGRESS
New York Times: “McCarthy’s Extraordinary Downfall Reflects an Ungovernable G.O.P.”
The Hill: “Greene Warns Expelling Gaetz ‘Will Not Be Tolerated’ By GOP Voters”
- Some House Republicans Were Reportedly Considering Trying To Expel Rep. Matt Gaetz If The House Ethics Committee Found He Committed Wrongdoing. “Fox News reported that some House Republicans are seeking to expel Gaetz if the Ethics Committee reports wrongdoing by Gaetz. It would take a two-thirds majority to expel a member from the House, but the Republicans are only holding onto a slim majority. CNN also reported that one Republican lawmaker said that Gaetz could be expelled depending on the Ethics Committee findings, telling the outlet that ‘We want him out.’” [The Hill, 10/2/23]
Mediaite: “House Republican Rips Gaetz’s ‘Personal’ Grudge Against McCarthy: ‘A Waste Of Time’”