Annapolis, MD—Two weeks after Larry Hogan and Maryland Republicans put politics over principles and followed through with their Jim Jordan fundraiser, Democrats are calling on Hogan and Maryland Republicans to oppose Jordan’s bid for Speaker of the House. 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.
After Democrats called on Hogan and Maryland Republicans to cancel the Jordan fundraiser, they defended him, 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.”
“Larry Hogan failed to take a moral stand and disinvite Jim Jordan from Republicans’ high-dollar fundraiser, but it’s time for him to stop hiding and oppose Jordan’s bid for Speaker of the House,” said Maryland Democratic Party spokesperson Fabion Seaton. “Jim Jordan is now running for the third highest office in America and Governor Hogan owes it to all Marylanders to oppose Jordan and his extremist, Koch-funded agenda.”
Hogan has a history of putting 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.