Jim Jordan and Scott DesJarlais Are What Is Wrong With Washington

MURFREESBORO, TN – Today, Rep. Jim Jordan, a founder of the freedom caucus, announced he will run for Speaker of the House. Rep. Scott DesJarlais supported Jordan’s past run for Speaker. Jordan has been accused of ignoring sexual abuse accusations during his time as a coach at Ohio State, and just yesterday introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. In response to this news, Mariah Phillips released the following statement:

“Jim Jordan has for years led an extremist group of lawmakers who have created much of the partisan gridlock in Washington. They have shut down our government and prevented bipartisan compromise on issues from fixing our immigration system to providing better healthcare. Scott DesJarlais has been a steadfast supporter of Jordan and his destructive approach to governing. Jim Jordan and Scott DesJarlais represent everything wrong with Washington today,” said Mariah Phillips, candidate to replace DesJarlais in TN’s 4th District.

Phillips went on to say, “Additionally, there is an alarming culture among many elected officials in Washington that tolerates sexual harassment and abuse. For far too long, victims of abuse have been afraid to come forward because the people in power enabled their abusers instead of protecting them. Rep. DesJarlais himself has a checkered history of inappropriate behavior and abuse, and he opposed the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. Rep. DesJarlais hasn’t wavered in his support for Jordan since the allegations against him surfaced, and he is clearly part of a culture that cannot continue. If you want to to change the culture of Washington, change the people you send there.”

In February, Phillips released a video on the culture of covering up  sexual harassment and abuse allegations in Washington.