Eric Swalwell Takes Brutal Swipe at Allegations Jim Jordan Turned Blind Eye to Sexual Abuse
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) took a brutal swipe at Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) in a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday when the topic of transgender women using women’s locker rooms arose.
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) said she was concerned about “some athletes being forced to undress in front of men who are in their locker room.”
“There are biological differences between girls and boys, regardless of what someone may claim that they are,” Hageman said.
After Hageman spoke, Jordan recognized Swalwell.
“I guess it’s a good thing that some folks on the other side are now interested in what happens in a locker room, and we’re not going to look the other way. Ok. I’ll accept that,” Swalwell said.
Swalwell: I guess it’s a good thing that some folks on the other side are interested in what happens in a locker room. We’re not going to look the other way. pic.twitter.com/knxyWVUIbr
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 21, 2024
Allegations have swirled for years that Jordan “looked the other way” when team doctor Richard Strauss molested Ohio State University wrestlers in the locker rooms when he was assistant coach there more than 20 years ago. Jordan has consistently denied knowing about any abuse under his leadership.
NBC News reported in 2018:
Three former wrestlers told NBC News that it was common knowledge that Strauss showered regularly with the students and inappropriately touched them during appointments, and said it would have been impossible for Jordan to be unaware; one wrestler said he told Jordan directly about the abuse.
Toward the end of his time during the hearing, Swalwell asked over and over how Republicans planned to enforce “gender checks” in locker rooms.
“So, who’s enforcing it? Is Mr. Jordan enforcing it? Mr. Gaetz enforcing it? Mr. Biggs? Who is enforcing this on-demand gender check?” Swalwell asked. “You didn’t put that into the bill. Seems a little creepy that we don’t know who’s going to be determining genders here…It’s kinda creepy. Kind of creepy that you’re setting up on-demand gender checks.”
“Are you calling me creepy?” Hageman asked.
“I’m saying it’s creepy that you’re setting up an on-demand gender check and you won’t tell how you’re going to enforce it,” Swalwell said.
Watch the hearing here.
