CBS’ Margaret Brennan Confronts Nancy Mace About Backing Jordan for Speaker Despite Allegations ‘He Turned a Blind Eye to Sexual Abuse’

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) came out Sunday morning in support of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for House Speaker.

“Jim Jordan is an honest man, true to his word and his values,” Mace wrote on X, the platform previously known as Twitter “He’s also a workhorse. He will put people ahead of petty Washington politics. He has my full support to be the next Speaker of the House.”

But CBS anchor Margaret Brennan, on Face the Nation, grilled the congresswoman about the colleague she’s now backing.

“I know you’ve been outspoken about defending victims of sexual assault,” Brennan said. “Do the past allegations against Jim Jordan that he turned a blind eye to sexual abuse give you any reservations?”

Brennan was referring to Jordan’s tenure as assistant wrestling coach at The Ohio State University from 1987-1995. Jordan has maintained he was unaware team doctor Richard Strauss was sexually abusing wrestlers on the team, although some former team members have gone on record to say Jordan knew. A total of 48 claims of abuse against Strauss were lodged by Ohio State wrestlers.

Mace punted when confronted with the allegations Sunday.

“I’m not familiar with or aware with that,” Mace said. “He’s not indicted on anything that I’m aware of. And so I don’t know anything. I can’t speak to that. … What I do know is that I’ve been a very strong voice for women. I’ve talked to Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise about that. I’ve been a very strong advocate for rape victims. As you mentioned earlier, the Judiciary Committee has with him as chairman, recently passed a rape kit bill that [Congresswoman] Barbara Lee and I are working on. And those are the facts and the data that I have to work with. And I’ve had a very positive experience with them in that regard.”

Watch above, via CBS.