Just Security this morning posted “Rep. Jim Jordan, a Systematic Disinformation Campaign, and January 6.” The Ohio Republican has “has engaged in a systematic effort to cast doubt on the integrity of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.” Jordan is more Trump troll than a lawmaker:
Jordan’s impact on broadcast and social media is extraordinary. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, as well as Newsmax and OAN, and advanced false claims about the election on all three networks. Of the 147 Republican members of Congress who opposed the certification of the election, Jordan was “the most prolific Fox guest,” according to an analysis by Media Matters, a non-profit organization that monitors conservative misinformation. He fielded close to 10% of all appearances by those GOP members since January 6. And while Jordan lost nearly 150,000 Twitter followers in a post-January 6 purge of accounts associated with the QAnon conspiracy, the most of any Republican lawmaker, he retains more than 2 million followers. Many of his tweets have been shared more than 10,000 times and liked over 50,000 times.
Twitter flagged many of Jordan’s election fraud claims as disputed. (Read: Outright BS) Nonetheless, Jordan helped whip January 6 as the “ultimate date of significance” for Trump supporters in spite ofTrump’s legal team losing over 60 court cases filed to try and overturn the 2020 election.
Jordan called repeatedly for investigations into the conduct of the election. So many times, in fact, that it might be hard for him to oppose them on principle if he had any principles. Now that the House is conducting them into the Jan. 6 insurrection to determine (among other things) if it was part of an attempted coup, Jordan could have a front-row seat.
Watch this space:
July 27, 2021: Rep. Jordan appears to confirm he spoke with President Trump by phone on January 6.
In a Fox News interview, Jordan appears to avoid saying whether he spoke to Trump that day. When asked directly, he responds, “Yes. I mean I’ve talked to the President so many – I can’t remember all the days I’ve talked to him. But I’ve certainly talked to the President.”
Additional context: A Republican member of the House Select Committee, Rep. Liz Cheney, D-MO, says Jordan should be called before the committee as a “material witness”.
No doubt Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) sees a role model in Jordan’s trolling.