Posted on 07/10/2018 9:27:04 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
An Ohio State wrestler is calling Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) a “phony” in an interview with CNN for saying he was not aware of allegations of inappropriate touching and sexual abuse by a former doctor on the wrestling team.
The person who spoke to CNN requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the allegations and out of concern for his family’s well-being. CNN says he is the fifth wrestler from the program to allege that Jordan knew of the actions of Richard Strauss, the former team doctor who killed himself in 2005.
"Jordan is denying this because obviously it would be political suicide for him," the former wrestler said to CNN in a report published on Tuesday. "He's still denying it. Jim Jordan knew. He didn't do anything about it."
Other news media have offered different counts on the number of wrestlers making the allegation, many of whom have spoken anonymously. The Washington Post has reported that seven former wrestlers have alleged that Jordan knew of misconduct by Strauss.
Jordan has denied the allegations that he knew of Strauss's alleged actions. He served as an assistant coach on the Ohio State team between 1987 and 1995, and says he did not hear of inappropriate behavior by the doctor.
While a number of wrestlers have said Jordan did know of the allegations, others have backed him.
Six former OSU wrestling coaches issued statements defending the GOP lawmaker on Monday against claims he was aware of the allegations against Strauss.
“What has been said about Jim Jordan is absolutely wrong,” the half-dozen coaches said in a joint statement. “We all worked on the wrestling coaching staff during Jim’s tenure at The Ohio State University. None of us saw or heard of abuse of OSU wrestlers. The well-being of student-athletes was all of our concern. If we had heard of any abuse, we would have spoken up.”
President Trump and many of Jordan's colleagues have offered support, though a request that the Office of Congressional Ethics investigate the matter has also been filed.
The wrestler who spoke to CNN for Tuesday's story said he told Jordan about Strauss's behavior.
"I remember coming up and saying, 'Strauss held my balls longer than normal.' He just snickered,” the former wrestler claimed, speaking of a conversation at the time with Jordan.
The former wrestler also recalled a time when he said he met with Jordan and several athletes who were all "clumped together” and he said he told Jordan "something to the effect of 'his hands are cold as s**t; he checked out every hair on my ball,'" in reference to Strauss.
According to the former wrestler, Jordan replied, "I have nothing to do with this" before walking away from him.
"He's sitting here and directly lying," the former wrestler continued.
He said an account from fellow former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato is "absolutely truthful."
DiSabato claimed Strauss groped him on multiple occasions while he was on the OSU wrestling team and also claimed Jordan knew about the sexual abuse allegations surrounding the doctor.
Exactly. Like the Metoo movement...if you were assaulted, how come you didnt go to the police BACK THEN?
I have a better idea. This accuser...what is his political affiliation and where does he lean? Thought so.
“CNN:” = Proven Fake News
Nobody says a thing for years and years...then - when Jordan is up for an important job, or says the “wrong” thing - the flood gates open to numerous accusers, and all at once.
You’d think, with that many accusers, over that period of time, at least one of the would have come forward years ago when Jordan first ran for Congress.
It’s all BS.
“How much is S0r0$ paying this guy?”
You drag a hundred dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you might come up with.
Someone said that some time ago...
If I’d been one of those wrestlers, I would have immediately taken up boxing... at least long enough for one good roundhouse punch to the side of the doctor’s head.
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