Annapolis, MD—Once again, Larry Hogan and Maryland Republicans are putting politics over principles by following through with their Jim Jordan fundraiser. Last week, Democrats called on Hogan and the MD GOP to disavow Jordan and withdraw his invite to deliver the keynote address at a Prince George’s County GOP high-dollar fundraiser in Bowie today. Eight former student-athletes at Ohio State University (OSU), where Jordan was an assistant wrestling coach from 1987 to 1995, have accused the Congressman of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse committed by OSU medical doctor Richard Strauss.
Hogan and Republicans are standing by Jordan, calling him a “man of solid character.”
Here’s what Jim Jordan’s former wrestlers are saying:
Shawn Dailey said: “What happened drove me out of the sport. So I was surprised to hear Jim say that he knew nothing about it.”
Mark Coleman said: “There’s no way, unless he’s got dementia or something, that [Jim Jordan’s] got no recollection of what was going on at Ohio State.”
One of Jordan’s former wrestlers who came forward anonymously said: “Jordan is denying this because obviously it would be political suicide for him. He’s still denying it. Jim Jordan knew. He didn’t do anything about it.”
“Apparently Larry Hogan and Maryland Republicans think that remaining silent in the face of sexual abuse makes Jim Jordan a ‘man of solid character,’ but the rest of us see him as a moral failure,” said Maryland Democratic Party spokesperson Fabion Seaton. “Larry Hogan and Maryland Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for following through with this fundraiser in light of the damning allegations that Jim Jordan failed to protect his students.”
This isn’t the first time Hogan has put politics over principles. In January, Hogan refused to call on the Republican Governors Association—which intends to “increase its spending” in Maryland to save him—to return money raised by Steve Wynn after allegations of the casino magnate’s misconduct. Last month, Democrats called on Hogan to donate the $100,000 Donald Trump raised to prop up his campaign to RAICES—a charity helping to reunite families separated by the Trump administration at the border. Hogan still has not donated the money.