A Republican congressman tied the "deep state" to Rep. Jim Jordan's, R-Ohio, accusers who allege he ignored sexual abuse of wrestlers by a team doctor while he was serving as a coach at Ohio State University decades ago.

While defending his fellow Republican, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Wednesday questioned the timing of several former wrestlers at Ohio State coming out earlier this month to say Jordan knew about Dr. Richard Strauss, who previously treated school athletes, and inappropriate behavior he allegedly engaged in during his tenure. Strauss committed suicide in 2005.

[Related: Paul Ryan backs Jim Jordan as a 'man of integrity']

Gaetz noted it was suspicious that the allegations surfaced only days after Jordan grilled Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein during a hearing about the Department of Justice's conduct in its investigation of President Trump's 2016 campaign.

"The timing is very suspect," Gaetz told Fox Business host Lou Dobbs. "To me what is the most suspicious is that right after Jim Jordan brought to the floor the question of the Department of Justice's complete delay in turning over documents it's only days after that when he elevates the contentiousness of that issue. I think they are people who have loose affiliation with the deep state that are out to get Jim Jordan and this is the way they are manifesting their hatred for a man who is doing everything to fight for the regular folks in this country who want, demand, and deserve the truth."



GOP Rep Says Purported Abuse Victims Tied to Deep State:



"They are people who have loose affiliation with a deep state out to get Jim Jordan and this is the way they are manifesting their hatred for a man who is doing everything to fight for the regular folks in this country." pic.twitter.com/uH5gOleSNK — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 12, 2018



Jordan has denied the claims against him. He and his defenders have said they believe the accusations are politically motivated because Jordan has been at odds with the DOJ over congressional requests for documents related to the FBI’s probe of Hillary Clinton’s private email server and the Trump campaign’s alleged collusion with Russians, and he is considering whether to compete to become the next speaker of the House.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, for instance, blamed Perkins Coie, which he called a "dirty tricks law firm" with ties to Democrats, for raising the allegations, and as Vanity Fair points out, after Jordan questioned the timing of the accusations during a Fox News interview last week, several right-wing news outlets have published articles suggesting a deep state conspiracy.

Jordan, who has the backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Trump, and other former Ohio State wrestlers, told reporters Tuesday he plans to sit down with Ohio State University investigators probing the allegations.

Among his accusers are former UFC world champion Mark Coleman.

The deep state is a conspiracy theory about a behind-the-scenes network controlling governments.