Rep. Jim Jordan (R), hit with multiple accusations that he knew about but failed to take action against a sexual abuser, just gave a hyper-aggressive interview to Fox News’ Bret Baier. First, this wasn’t your standard Hannity/Tucker-style Fox interview. Baier wasn’t antagonistic but he was deliberate and focused and pressed Jordan on the key points. Jordan attacked his accusers, particularly the first one who came forward, Mike DiSabato. But what was most revealing is that Jordan repeatedly fell back on the distinction between ‘locker room talk’ and formal accusations. “Conversations in a locker room are a lot different than allegations of abuse or reported abuse to us,” Jordan told Baier.
This seemed to me as much as an admission since the kind of ‘everybody knew’ locker room talk is exactly what Jordan’s accusers say happened. Baier focused in on this and asked Jordan whether he heard things in locker room conversations, even things that may have not seemed like abuse twenty years ago but do today.
Jordan denied it but then repeatedly came back to the same ‘locker room talk’/formal accusation distinction.
Here are some key video clips. First the claims of a conspiracy against him …
Rep. Jim Jordan attacks accuser as liar and criminal with vendetta against Ohio state and Jordan's family. pic.twitter.com/TnKNo0OLMV
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 6, 2018
Rep. Jim Jordan suggests multiple accusations re covering up for abuse tied to his scrutiny of Rod Rosenstein. pic.twitter.com/nUPCC0KuPK
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 6, 2018
Rep Jordan: Same law firm hired to investigate sexual abuse at my wrestling program was tied to the Steele Dossier. pic.twitter.com/tRHFtR5Vhp
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 6, 2018
And making the distinction between ‘locker room talk’ and formal accusations.
VERY TELLING. Jordan repeatedly notes this distinction: "Conversations in a locker room are a lot different than allegations of abuse or reported abuse to us." Seems to be falling back on *formal accusations*, just discussed and common knowledge. pic.twitter.com/X3SPSLw8j2
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 6, 2018
Jordan repeated this distinction between 'locker room talk' and a formal complaint. Bret Baier caught and pressed him about whether he heard things in locker room talk. Jordan denies it. pic.twitter.com/Qi3v80KSMg
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 6, 2018
