House Majority Whip Steve Scalise once faced a similar politically precarious situation years ago. | Gerald Herbert/AP Photo Scalise defends Jordan amid sex abuse scandal

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise on Monday released a statement backing Rep. Jim Jordan against accusations that he turned a blind eye to sexual abuse decades ago.

The Louisiana Republican is the first member of leadership to publicly back Jordan (R-Ohio), who has long been a thorn in GOP leadership’s side as leader of the House Freedom Caucus.


“I have always known Jim Jordan to be honest, and I’m confident he would stand up for his athletes, just like he’s always stood up for what’s right,” Scalise said in the statement. “I'm glad that Jim is committed to working with the investigators to see that the full truth comes out and justice is served.”

Several former Ohio State University wrestlers have described rampant sexual abuse by the team physician during a span that included Jordan’s stint as an assistant coach for the team in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Scalise’s statement comes as lawmakers speculate about who will replace retiring Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The next speaker will undoubtedly need the support of the Freedom Caucus, and both Scalise and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Ryan’s No. 2, have been courting the group.

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Scalise has said he will not run against McCarthy.

Scalise once faced a similar politically precarious situation. Years ago, reports surfaced that he’d given a speech to a white supremacy group while serving in the Louisiana Statehouse. Scalise maintained that he did not know the mission of the group as he delivered a speech about fiscal policy.

Scalise was helped when GOP leaders backed him, saying he has never held any racist views.

Now Scalise is lending a hand to Jordan, who was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State for eight years at a time when wrestlers said they were being sexually abused by the team doctor. Jordan has said he did not know anything about allegations that the doctor groped his male athletes, while some of his former wrestlers have suggested he did.