Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican congressman from Ohio’s fourth congressional district and former assistant coach for the Ohio State wrestling team, has been accused of knowing about the sexual assaults made by former team doctor Richard Strauss, according to a report.
Richard Strauss, a former wrestling team physician and an assistant professor of medicine, is being investigated by Ohio State on allegations of sexual misconduct. Credit: Lantern file photo
An assistant coach from 1986-1994, Jordan had told the Columbus Dispatch when the investigation began he did not know about the abuse, but three former wrestlers told NBC News that Strauss’ abuse was common knowledge and that Jordan was told about the incidents while he was on staff.
According to the NBC report, former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato said he reached out to Jordan before going public with his allegations. DiSabato said Jordan did not want to be involved.
Dunyasha Yetts, an Ohio State wrestler from 1993-1994, told NBC he and his teammates talked multiple times to Jordan about Strauss’ behavior. However, Jordan told the Columbus Dispatch on May 3 that, “no one had reported any type of abuse to him.”
In a statement made to The Lantern, Ian Fury, Jordan’s spokesman, echoed that statement.
“Congressman Jordan never saw any abuse, never heard about any abuse, and never had any abuse reported to him during his time as a coach at Ohio State,” the statement read. “He has not been contacted by investigators about the matter but will assist them in any way they ask, because if what is alleged is true, the victims deserve a full investigation and justice.”
Ohio State announced April 5 that it would be investigating the allegations made against Strauss of “acts of sexual misconduct” as a team doctor.
