Ron DeSantis endorses Jim Jordan for House speaker

Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fl.), who is running for governor in Florida, said on Thursday he would support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in the race to succeed House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

DeSantis -- an inaugural member of the powerful House Freedom Caucus -- cited Jordan's time as a wrestler and his reputation as a conservative firebrand as qualities he'd like to see in the next No. 1 Republican in the House.

Jordan has been facing allegations from former wrestlers at Ohio State University (OSU) that he turned a blind eye to reports of sexual abuse during his tenure as an assistant wrestling coach. The Ohio lawmaker has denied any knowledge about the alleged abuse.

DeSantis, who is vying to replace retiring Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), described Jordan as a man of principles and a fighter, as well as somebody who would stand up to lobbyists.

In a speech to America First Coalition, DeSantis also said Jordan would have pushed hard in the House Freedom Caucus' goal to get Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to release documents tied to the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

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