Ex-Ohio State Wrestler Eviscerates GOP Lawmakers Fighter Praise For Jim Jordan

Former Ohio State University wrestler Will Knight on Tuesday tore down the characterization of speaker nominee Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as a fighter. (Watch the video below.)

Fellow Trumper Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) used the term in a speech nominating Jordan before he failed to get enough votes for the speakers gavel.

The glowing reference to his time on the wrestling mat drew audible gasps in the House, presumably because Jordans stint as an assistant coach at Ohio State included accusations that he overlooked the allegations of sexual abuse of team members by school doctor Richard Strauss.

Knight was one of the athletes who said he was molested, and he wasnt impressed by Stefaniks praise for the Ohio congressman, which CNN s Abby Phillip replayed for him.

The funny thing is that when people always call Jim Jordan a fighter, and I always wonder who hes fighting for, Knight said. Because he had a real opportunity to fight for us and the people that he coached and the people that he recruited at the Ohio State. And all hes done is turn his back on us, so I dont know what the fighter thing is. I know he used to be a fighter, I know he used to be a good wrestler, but hes not a good fighter for anyone else that I know of.

The funny thing is that when people call Jordan fighter, I always wonder who hes fighting for, because he had a real opportunity to fight for us and the people he coached, and the people he recruited at Ohio State, and all he has done is turn his back on us pic.twitter.com/pMJ21tskIh

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The funny thing is that when people call Jordan fighter, I always wonder who hes fighting for, because he had a real opportunity to fight for us and the people he coached, and the people he recruited at Ohio State, and all he has done is turn his back on us pic.twitter.com/pMJ21tskIh
Acyn (@Acyn) October 18, 2023

Jordan fell short on the first ballot of his bid to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as speaker amid continued Republican dithering. A second vote has been slated for Wednesday.

Knight complimented Jordan for believing in him and giving him a chance as a walk-on back in 1992. He said that while Jordan was also a staunch conservative back then, they could agree to disagree.

But thats not the man whos seeking to snag the speakership, he said. Theres people who believe in the BS that hes spewing, Knight added.

Its just disappointing because he still has an opportunity to do right by us, Knight said, per Mediaite . He had an opportunity to help us out, to help us remedy this thing with Ohio State. And he chose not to do it with hundreds of athletes that he was associated with, that as a coach, youre just supposed to help protect and mentor into manhood.

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Jordan has denied any knowledge of the abuse .