Ohio State probe hangs over Jordan’s push for House speaker
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Jordan launched his long-shot bid Thursday to become the next House speaker, saying Congress isn’t doing enough to back President Donald Trump and positioning the right flank for a leadership battle that could define the GOP.
Few House Republicans believe Jordan could amass the votes needed to replace retiring Speaker Paul Ryan — especially amid allegations in the Ohio State University sports doctor probe — even though grass-roots conservatives are widely backing his run.
But in announcing his bid — less than 24 hours after introducing a resolution to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — the combative former wrestler is setting down a marker that the right flank wants a seat at the House Jordan GOP’s leadership table.
The Ohio lawmaker told colleagues that while Trump has taken “bold action” for the country: “Congress has not held up its end of the deal, but we can change that. It’s time to do what we said.”
The leadership race puts pressure on Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and GOP Whip Steve Scalise to more forcefully back Trump and meet conserva- tive demands on a host of issues.
Jordan’s run poses the biggest challenge for McCarthy, the California Republican who is next in line to replace Ryan but has been unable to secure the votes needed for the job from the right flank.
It’s the same shortcoming McCarthy faced last time he ran for speaker, in 2015, and provides an opening for Scalise, the Louisianan who is more closely aligned with the GOP’s conservative wing.
Freedom Caucus cochairman, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., tweeted that he supports Jordan f or speaker.
Jordan, 54, is a founder of the House Freedom Caucus, and considered its chief strategist. The group has 30 members, making it a key faction among the chamber’s 236 Republicans.
Clouding Jordan’s race, however, is a chapter from his days as a coach at Ohio State University.
The former wrestling champion was interviewed recently by lawyers investigating allegations that a former team doctor sexually abused male athletes decades ago. The six-term congressman has denied claims from some of the wrestlers that he knew of the abuse.
Ryan and the other leaders have stood by Jordan during the university probe.
“Anyone who knows Jim Jordan knows that is not right,” said Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. “He is a guy that’s fair, he’s honest, that would never happen on his watch.”