*The following article contains discussion of sexual assault
As Senate confirmation hearings began for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, posted a "don't forget" message on Twitter urging Republicans to remember "what Democrats did to Brett Kavanaugh."
The tweet, a reference to the Associate Supreme Court Justice who Republicans have long alleged had his confirmation hearing nearly derailed by numerous sexual assault allegations they deemed were false, was highly criticized.
Kavanaugh has denied ever sexually assaulting Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the Palo Alto University professor who identified herself as the author of a then-anonymous letter alleging that he had assaulted her while at a high school party. Multiple women came forward with their own accounts after Dr. Ford's allegations emerged.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received considerable pushback in the weeks after the allegations became public in light of the limits placed upon the investigation and the knowledge that the bureau declined to interview the witnesses suggested by the attorneys for Kavanaugh's accusers. Its investigators did not interview Dr. Ford, deeming her Senate testimony sufficient.
Kavanaugh was ultimately confirmed in a 50-48 vote.
Jordan's words prompted many to criticize him for his own behavior, reminding others of his inconsistent story regarding what happened on January 6, 2021, the day a mob of former President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the United States Capitol on the false premise the 2020 general election had been stolen.
Others pointed to the controversy that erupted during his time at Ohio State University, where he served as assistant wrestling coach. Several former wrestlers came forward to say that Jordan had been aware of, but did not respond to, allegations of sexual misconduct by former wrestling team physician Richard Strauss. Jordan has denied the charges.
And still more stressed that Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual assault by several women, and that Jordan and his fellow Republicans looked the other way.
Jordan has changed his story regarding the number of phone calls he exchanged with former President Trump on January 6, recently recalling that he and Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz got on a phone call with Trump while the insurrection was underway and asked him to tell his supporters to "stand down."
He added that he was "sure" that one of the phone calls was made in the safe room "because we were in that room forever." However, he said he would have to "think about" whether Gaetz participated or not.
Although Gaetz has not remarked on Jordan's comments directly, a spokesperson told Politico that he speaks with Trump regularly and "doesn't disclose the substance of those discussions with the media."
The intrigue over Jordan's comments intensified after the House Select Committee said it will ask telecommunications companies to preserve the phone records of lawmakers who participated in the "Stop the Steal" rally ahead of the insurrection.
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If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, help is out there. You can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 1-800-656-4673, use their Live Chat tool: https://www.rainn.org/get-help, or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
In Canada, help is available through the Ending Violence Association of Canada website.
International resources can be found through the Rape Crisis Network Europe website.
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