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Jordan Brings Pugnacious Style to Impeachment Defense of Trump Jordan Brings Pugnacious Style to Impeachment Defense of Trump
(32 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Representative Jim Jordan, a scrappy former wrestler and firebrand founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has always relished a fight. So it was no surprise this week when, as President Trump’s chief defender in the impeachment inquiry, he interrupted the staid tone of the first public hearing and let it rip.WASHINGTON — Representative Jim Jordan, a scrappy former wrestler and firebrand founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has always relished a fight. So it was no surprise this week when, as President Trump’s chief defender in the impeachment inquiry, he interrupted the staid tone of the first public hearing and let it rip.
“And you’re their star witness?” he thundered at William B. Taylor Jr., the top diplomat in Ukraine, after prodding Mr. Taylor on Wednesday to say that he had never met the president, and that his information was secondhand. “You’re their first witness! You’re the guy?! I’ve seen church prayer chains that are easier to understand than this.”“And you’re their star witness?” he thundered at William B. Taylor Jr., the top diplomat in Ukraine, after prodding Mr. Taylor on Wednesday to say that he had never met the president, and that his information was secondhand. “You’re their first witness! You’re the guy?! I’ve seen church prayer chains that are easier to understand than this.”
For Mr. Jordan of Ohio, it was both an attention-grabbing moment and a chance to redeem himself with Republican leaders after years of being on the outs. The party is relying on him to frame the narrative Republicans offer to the public as Mr. Trump faces the gravest threat yet to his presidency.For Mr. Jordan of Ohio, it was both an attention-grabbing moment and a chance to redeem himself with Republican leaders after years of being on the outs. The party is relying on him to frame the narrative Republicans offer to the public as Mr. Trump faces the gravest threat yet to his presidency.
It is one in which the president is a victim, witnesses are trafficking in hearsay at best, and working to undercut the duly elected president at worst, and Mr. Trump’s campaign to press Ukraine to investigate his political rivals was a perfectly appropriate exercise of executive power.It is one in which the president is a victim, witnesses are trafficking in hearsay at best, and working to undercut the duly elected president at worst, and Mr. Trump’s campaign to press Ukraine to investigate his political rivals was a perfectly appropriate exercise of executive power.
On Friday, Mr. Jordan’s gloves-off style — part pit bull, part rat-a-tat auctioneer — was put to the test when Marie L. Yovanovitch, the ousted ambassador to Ukraine, testified in deeply personal terms about how she felt “threatened” by Mr. Trump after it emerged that he had told President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine that she was “bad news” and would “go through some things.”On Friday, Mr. Jordan’s gloves-off style — part pit bull, part rat-a-tat auctioneer — was put to the test when Marie L. Yovanovitch, the ousted ambassador to Ukraine, testified in deeply personal terms about how she felt “threatened” by Mr. Trump after it emerged that he had told President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine that she was “bad news” and would “go through some things.”
Mr. Jordan, apparently working to avoid appearing to bully her, treaded relatively lightly in addressing Ms. Yovanovitch. He reserved his tart tongue for the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff, who tried to force the Ohio congressman to wrap up his questioning as he blew through the five-minute limit.Mr. Jordan, apparently working to avoid appearing to bully her, treaded relatively lightly in addressing Ms. Yovanovitch. He reserved his tart tongue for the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff, who tried to force the Ohio congressman to wrap up his questioning as he blew through the five-minute limit.
“My indulgence is wearing out,” Mr. Schiff said.“My indulgence is wearing out,” Mr. Schiff said.
“Our indulgence wore out with you a long time ago, Mr. Chairman,” Mr. Jordan shot back. A rumble emerged from the audience, which uttered a collective “Oooooh.”“Our indulgence wore out with you a long time ago, Mr. Chairman,” Mr. Jordan shot back. A rumble emerged from the audience, which uttered a collective “Oooooh.”
Mr. Jordan was installed on the intelligence panel at the last minute by Representative Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader, so that he could take a prominent role in the public questioning. He and other Republicans on the panel spent part of Thursday in “murder boards” — mock hearings — to prepare.Mr. Jordan was installed on the intelligence panel at the last minute by Representative Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader, so that he could take a prominent role in the public questioning. He and other Republicans on the panel spent part of Thursday in “murder boards” — mock hearings — to prepare.
“It’s just like adding a pinch-hitter or a relief pitcher,” Mr. McCarthy said in an interview.“It’s just like adding a pinch-hitter or a relief pitcher,” Mr. McCarthy said in an interview.
With polls showing the public deeply split on whether Mr. Trump deserves to be impeached, and views hardening along party lines, Mr. Jordan is unlikely to change any minds. But for now, his presence on the panel is assuaging the Republican base, which is looking for someone tough to go up against Mr. Schiff, Democrat of California, a strait-laced former federal prosecutor.With polls showing the public deeply split on whether Mr. Trump deserves to be impeached, and views hardening along party lines, Mr. Jordan is unlikely to change any minds. But for now, his presence on the panel is assuaging the Republican base, which is looking for someone tough to go up against Mr. Schiff, Democrat of California, a strait-laced former federal prosecutor.
“I think it is helpful in a setting dominated by Schiff to have somebody who’s willing to be the equivalent of a middle linebacker in football,” said Newt Gingrich, who was speaker during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. “He’s willing to plunge in and make the tough case, and do it in very understandable language.”“I think it is helpful in a setting dominated by Schiff to have somebody who’s willing to be the equivalent of a middle linebacker in football,” said Newt Gingrich, who was speaker during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. “He’s willing to plunge in and make the tough case, and do it in very understandable language.”
Technically, Representative Devin Nunes, the ranking Republican on the intelligence panel, is Mr. Schiff’s counterpart. But during weeks of closed-door depositions, Mr. Jordan, the top Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, took the lead in questioning witnesses.Technically, Representative Devin Nunes, the ranking Republican on the intelligence panel, is Mr. Schiff’s counterpart. But during weeks of closed-door depositions, Mr. Jordan, the top Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, took the lead in questioning witnesses.
“If you didn’t know better, you would think he was a prosecutor,” said Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 3 House Republican.“If you didn’t know better, you would think he was a prosecutor,” said Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 3 House Republican.
A former state legislator and law school graduate who never took the bar, Mr. Jordan is a two-time N.C.C.A. Division 1 wrestling champion in the 134-pound (lightweight) class. He rarely wears a suit jacket, and his failure to don one on Wednesday drew the attention of Robin Givhan, the fashion critic for The Washington Post.A former state legislator and law school graduate who never took the bar, Mr. Jordan is a two-time N.C.C.A. Division 1 wrestling champion in the 134-pound (lightweight) class. He rarely wears a suit jacket, and his failure to don one on Wednesday drew the attention of Robin Givhan, the fashion critic for The Washington Post.
“It’s his power move,” she wrote. “His sartorial chest thump.”“It’s his power move,” she wrote. “His sartorial chest thump.”
But Mr. Jordan seemed unable to rattle Mr. Taylor, a seasoned diplomat with a full head of gray hair and a stentorian voice that evoked memories of Walter Cronkite.But Mr. Jordan seemed unable to rattle Mr. Taylor, a seasoned diplomat with a full head of gray hair and a stentorian voice that evoked memories of Walter Cronkite.
Reading Mr. Taylor’s own testimony back to him, Mr. Jordan reminded the witness that he had said it was his “clear understanding” that Ukraine would not receive nearly $400 in military aid from the United States until Mr. Zelensky announced the investigations. That is the essence of Democrats’ case that Mr. Trump abused his power. Reading Mr. Taylor’s own testimony back to him, Mr. Jordan reminded the witness that he had said it was his “clear understanding” that Ukraine would not receive nearly $400 million in military aid from the United States until Mr. Zelensky announced the investigations. That is the essence of Democrats’ case that Mr. Trump abused his power.
“Now with all due respect ambassador, your clear understanding was obviously wrong, because it didn’t happen,” Mr. Jordan said sharply, going on to note that Mr. Zelensky never made such an announcement and that the aid was ultimately released. (He neglected to say that Mr. Trump released it under pressure from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.)“Now with all due respect ambassador, your clear understanding was obviously wrong, because it didn’t happen,” Mr. Jordan said sharply, going on to note that Mr. Zelensky never made such an announcement and that the aid was ultimately released. (He neglected to say that Mr. Trump released it under pressure from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.)
“So I’m wondering, where’d you get this clear understanding?” Mr. Jordan said, wrapping up. Mr. Taylor was unbowed: “As I testified, Mr. Jordan, this came from Mr. Sondland,” he said, referring to Gordon D. Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union and an ally of Mr. Trump.“So I’m wondering, where’d you get this clear understanding?” Mr. Jordan said, wrapping up. Mr. Taylor was unbowed: “As I testified, Mr. Jordan, this came from Mr. Sondland,” he said, referring to Gordon D. Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union and an ally of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Jordan, in a brief interview, said he was simply trying to get at the truth — at least as Republicans see it.Mr. Jordan, in a brief interview, said he was simply trying to get at the truth — at least as Republicans see it.
“Our job is to get out the facts, the truth, and let the American people know that the facts are on the president’s side, strongly on the president’s side, and let the American people see what they already know, which is that the process is unfair,” he said. “We will just keep doing that.”“Our job is to get out the facts, the truth, and let the American people know that the facts are on the president’s side, strongly on the president’s side, and let the American people see what they already know, which is that the process is unfair,” he said. “We will just keep doing that.”
Democrats, both here in Washington and in his home state of Ohio, see Mr. Jordan as bomb-thrower who is more interested in theatrics and obfuscation than substance. Julian Epstein, who served as the Democrats’ lead counsel in the impeachment of Mr. Clinton, called Mr. Jordan a “carnival barker who peddles dopamine to the base.”Democrats, both here in Washington and in his home state of Ohio, see Mr. Jordan as bomb-thrower who is more interested in theatrics and obfuscation than substance. Julian Epstein, who served as the Democrats’ lead counsel in the impeachment of Mr. Clinton, called Mr. Jordan a “carnival barker who peddles dopamine to the base.”
Jerry Austin, a Democratic strategist in Ohio, called Mr. Jordan “a colossal jerk,” adding, “He basically is an actor, playing the part of this right-wing conservative congressman that whatever Donald Trump does, he’s defending.”Jerry Austin, a Democratic strategist in Ohio, called Mr. Jordan “a colossal jerk,” adding, “He basically is an actor, playing the part of this right-wing conservative congressman that whatever Donald Trump does, he’s defending.”
At home in Ohio, Mr. Jordan is the subject of controversy, amid complaints from former college wrestlers who say that when he was a young assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, he turned a blind eye to allegations that a team doctor was abusing the athletes. Mr. Jordan has said he did not know of the abuse, and heard no locker-room talk about it, though an investigation commissioned by the university found it was an “open secret.”At home in Ohio, Mr. Jordan is the subject of controversy, amid complaints from former college wrestlers who say that when he was a young assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, he turned a blind eye to allegations that a team doctor was abusing the athletes. Mr. Jordan has said he did not know of the abuse, and heard no locker-room talk about it, though an investigation commissioned by the university found it was an “open secret.”
Many of the wrestlers who accused him argue the congressman, then in his early 20s, should not be blamed because he could not have done much to protect them. One outspoken wrestler, Dunyasha Yetts, said that Mr. Jordan in fact did the right thing and confronted the doctor about being too hands-on with the students.Many of the wrestlers who accused him argue the congressman, then in his early 20s, should not be blamed because he could not have done much to protect them. One outspoken wrestler, Dunyasha Yetts, said that Mr. Jordan in fact did the right thing and confronted the doctor about being too hands-on with the students.
But they were privately disappointed that Mr. Jordan sought to deflect any accusations of wrongdoing by arguing that wrestlers who came forward were politically motivated and part of the so-called deep state — a defense that sounds much as if it could have come from the president he is defending now.But they were privately disappointed that Mr. Jordan sought to deflect any accusations of wrongdoing by arguing that wrestlers who came forward were politically motivated and part of the so-called deep state — a defense that sounds much as if it could have come from the president he is defending now.
That Mr. Jordan is in his current role reflects how the once-fractured Republican conference has come together in the Trump era. When Republicans were in the majority, Mr. Jordan and his fellow conservatives made trouble for the Republican leadership, often balking at their legislative agenda.That Mr. Jordan is in his current role reflects how the once-fractured Republican conference has come together in the Trump era. When Republicans were in the majority, Mr. Jordan and his fellow conservatives made trouble for the Republican leadership, often balking at their legislative agenda.
After Republicans lost the majority last year, Mr. Jordan challenged Mr. McCarthy for the top leadership spot — and lost. That generated what another member of leadership, Representative Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina, called “bad blood” between them.After Republicans lost the majority last year, Mr. Jordan challenged Mr. McCarthy for the top leadership spot — and lost. That generated what another member of leadership, Representative Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina, called “bad blood” between them.
Despite that, Mr. McCarthy gave Mr. Jordan the ranking position on the oversight panel, a plum job. The two men were freshmen lawmakers together — both were elected in 2006 — and Mr. McCarthy said he admired Mr. Jordan’s “work ethic” and tenacity. He gave Mr. Jordan the job, he said, over the strong objections of others in Republican leadership who warned him that he would regret it.Despite that, Mr. McCarthy gave Mr. Jordan the ranking position on the oversight panel, a plum job. The two men were freshmen lawmakers together — both were elected in 2006 — and Mr. McCarthy said he admired Mr. Jordan’s “work ethic” and tenacity. He gave Mr. Jordan the job, he said, over the strong objections of others in Republican leadership who warned him that he would regret it.
He said he has not.He said he has not.
Catie Edmondson and Nicholas Fandos contributed reporting.Catie Edmondson and Nicholas Fandos contributed reporting.