Family Values and vehemently anti-LGBT GOP Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is being accused of knowing about and willfully ignoring the sexual abuse of the male wrestlers he coached at Ohio State University.
An NBC News report published Tuesday alleged the powerful Ohio congressman was aware of allegations that a doctor was molesting members of the wrestling team when he was an assistant wrestling coach from 1986 to 1994, but that he ignored those claims of abuse.
Ohio State University announced in April it was investigating abuse allegations against Dr. Richard Strauss, who died in 2005, for allegedly abusing team members from the mid-1970s to late 1990s. Three former wrestlers told NBC News it was known that the doctor would shower regularly with the students and touch them inappropriately during appointments.
Did he know of allegations that a team doctor was molesting members of his team? “I never heard of abuse, plain and simple,” the Ohio Republican told me over the phone. “No one ever reported or talked about abuse. I never heard of it.”
Two other former wrestlers dispute that claim.
“I considered Jim Jordan a friend,” DiSabato said. “But at the end of the day, he is absolutely lying if he says he doesn’t know what was going on.”
Mike DiSabato, a former wrestler at OSU who is one Strauss’ many victims, told CNN there is no question in his mind that Jordan “knew it all.”
DiSabato said during his time at OSU, Strauss’ alleged abuse of athletes was widely known and discussed. “We trained every day together. His (Jordan’s) locker was located next to Doc Strauss. It was a common uncomfortable joke that “Doc likes to hold your penis”.
DiSabato said there were many conversations in which Jordan acknowledged Strauss’ alleged actions. Jordan’s response would be along the lines of: “If he ever touches me, I’ll kill him.”
Jordan, responded to allegations denying that he turned a blind eye to sexual abuse during his time as an assistant Ohio State wrestling coach.
Two other college wrestlers deny his claim.