Over 100 Ohio State alumni have accused ex-physician Richard Strauss of sexual misconduct. Eight former wrestlers say Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who was an assistant wrestling coach at the university during the alleged period of abuse, was aware of the accusations and ignored them. The Ohio Republican has denied the claims even as number of accusers continues to grow.
Jordan found a sympathetic audience on Tuesday in Sean Hannity. The Fox News host closed their radio interview by claiming the accusations against Jordan amount to nothing more than a “smear campaign.”
HANNITY: “By the way, I’m sorry you went through that smear campaign. And I knew it was a lie from day one.”
JORDAN: “Thank you.”
HANNITY: “But you know what, they do it to anybody that supports the president. It was just your turn.”
Hannity joins a list of prominent conservatives who have defended Jordan, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), and President Donald Trump, who vouched for the Ohio Republican earlier this month. “Jim Jordan is one of the most outstanding people I’ve met since I’ve been in Washington,” Trump said. “I believe him 100 percent.”
Jordan reportedly talked to investigators last week about the scandal that has drawn comparisons to Penn State’s enabling of Jerry Sandusky’s child abuse.