CNN is contacting Jim Jordan’s former staff and interns for dirt on him

Members of Congress, wrestling coaches, and former wrestlers have defended Rep. Jim Jordan's integrity amid allegations that the Ohio Republican ignored reports of sexual abuse by the team doctor Richard Strauss while employed as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University.

Despite multiple character witnesses claiming that Jordan is an honest man and that ignoring abuse would be totally out of character for him, the media is now hounding Jordan's former staffers for "dirt" on him.

On Wednesday, the congressman tweeted that CNN had been contacting his former staff — including interns.

Several former staffers and interns confirmed that they have been contacted by CNN news editor Laura Ly, according to Rep. Jordan's office. Jordan's communications director, Ian Fury, told Conservative Review that if CNN is looking for disgruntled former staff, it won't find anyone.

"Six wrestling coaches, over a dozen wrestlers, and Congressman Jordan's colleagues all agree: He is a man of integrity," said Fury. "We have never had a single staffing incident in the 12 years that Jim Jordan has been in Congress."

Jordan is accused of being negligent when he was an assistant coach from 1986 to 1994. Eight former OSU wrestlers have come forward and claimed that Jordan knew about Strauss' sexually predatory behavior toward the wrestlers. Jordan has vehemently denied the accusations, insisting that he never knew of the abuse and that it was never reported to him.

"I am telling the truth," Jordan said. "I stood up to the speaker of the House from my home state, to the IRS and to the FBI. To think that I would not stand up for my athletes is ridiculous."

Most of Jordan's Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives have stood up for his character, including Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc.

"Jim Jordan is a friend of mine," Ryan told reporters Wednesday. "We haven't always agreed with each other over the years. ... I've also known Jim Jordan to be a man of honesty and a man of integrity."

The House Freedom Caucus, of which Jordan is a member, has also supported him.

Former OSU wrestlers have also come forward to "refute false claims" against Jordan, according to the #StandWithJimJordan campaign.

One of the original accusers, Michael DiSabato, has a long history of litigation and seemingly a personal grudge against Jordan's family.

While the accusations should be taken seriously, it's interesting to note that CNN is diligently digging for dirt to bring down Jordan, while the network has not reported on the shady nature of some of his accusers.

Editor's note: This piece has been updated to clarify the source of statements made in support of Rep. Jordan.

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