Column By John Young
For a sect whose world is furnished with wild claims and rabbit-hole plunges, MAGA people aren’t very good at conspiracies.
Atop QAnon articles of incorporation/initiation, after all, is the gospel truth and sworn oath that the Democratic Party is a honeycomb of child predators, and QAnon will do something about it.
What then, of the Republican they most venerate – he of muscular memes, crypto chops, shiny bronze countenance. What of His Greatness being a drooling sort who partied hard with a world-renowned convicted pedophile?
Right under MAGA’s nose: photos, video, revealing statements – and not just for weeks but for years, 10 or so of which we learn from Jeffrey Epstein’s own words that they were best friends.
For a respectable conspiracy gumshoes, not suspecting the worst should be discrediting. Talk about blowing it. This is like asserting JFK was killed in New Jersey or that the grassy knoll was gravel.
Now, more evidence – particularly the official stonewalling about it – at last has piqued the interest of the rabbit-hole right about these matters.
Fact is, ever since the golden escalator delivered MAGA’s he-man to us, his supporters have shoved aside the photos and videos and revealing statements about his bro-ship with Epstein: “terrific guy,” “a lot of fun to be with,” “likes women as much as I do,” with many “on the younger side.”
These matters did not click in MAGA’s inquiring brains all this time, not even when one who said Epstein raped her had worked at Mar-a-Lago. Some investigators!
Was the man they boosted to ultra-power a facilitator, a bystander, or a customer/investor in Epstein’s enterprise? InQuiring minds should have wanted to know.
But this is not the only situation in which a muscular Republican leader has coasted past scrutiny about similar matters for too long.
Congressman Jim Jordan, the attack dog of the House Oversight Committee, is going to be asked under oath about a case every bit as horrific as the Epstein saga.
Something Jordan hoped voters would never know about is coming to court — sexual abuse of student athletes at Ohio State University, where he was a longtime wrestling coach.
The matter is detailed in the devastating HBO documentary “Surviving Ohio State.”
A long procession of former athletes recounts how team physician Richard Strauss molested them. One says Strauss raped him.
Jordan’s role, as assistant coach, along with that of his boss, legendary OSU head wrestling coach Russ Hellickson, comes across clearly as that of facilitator – one who knew what was going on and did nothing.
In addition to inexcusable and criminal acts done to students in clinical settings, Strauss – now deceased – took locker-room showers in ways by which he could leer at athletes and others as the students lathered up.
A former wrestling referee, Frederick Feeney, describes Strauss positioning himself in the team shower to observe him. Then, in the process of pleasuring himself, Strauss reached over to touch the referee on the rear before being rebuffed.
Feeney says he reported this to Jordan:
“Jim Jordan looked at me straight in my face and said, ‘It’s Strauss. You know what he does,” Feeney said.
Years after a raft of lawsuits was filed against his alma mater and former employer, while he was making his climb to right-wing Valhalla, Jordan is scheduled to be deposed on the matter.
In the documentary, a former OSU athlete recounts how Jordan tearfully asked him over the phone to vouch for his claims that he knew nothing.
Over to you, MAGA. Over to you, Ohio voters. I’m sure you’ll be interested in knowing more about this matter. Or won’t you?
Longtime newspaperman John Young lives in Colorado. Email him at jyoungcolumn@gmail.com.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
