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Former OSU wrestler sought compensation from school over sex abuse allegations
The Hill ^ | Melanie Zanona - 07/11/18 | Melanie Zanona - 07/11/18

Posted on 07/11/2018 9:14:59 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

A former Ohio State University wrestler who came forward with allegations last week that a doctor sexually abused athletes on the team sought compensation from the school last month, according to a copy of an email obtained by The Hill.

In an email sent to both OSU and the law firm conducting an independent investigation, former OSU wrestler Mike DiSabato said he had no intention of causing a “public relations nightmare” but warned that he would “pursue other avenues toward resolution” if a meeting was not set up with university representatives to discuss a potential settlement for the victims.

OSU confirmed that it received letter, first reported by the Columbus Dispatch on Wednesday, from DiSabato on June 26, but offered no further comment.

The email was also sent to Ohio State Sen. Joe Schiavoni (D), who confirmed to The Hill that he received the email.

“Our intent is to expeditiously reach a negotiated settlement, without conflict, that compensates the victims for the trauma they have suffered because of this sex abuse, deals with the individual that knew of this situation, but chose to do nothing about it, and corrects the atmosphere that may still at exist at OSU,” DiSabato wrote. “I request a meeting with all OSU representatives deemed appropriate within the next two weeks to commence the settlement discussions in this matter.”

“If I do not hear from you within this time period, I will assume OSU does not wish to enter into discussions with the victims directly and will be forced to pursue other avenues towards resolution,” added DiSabato, who noted he was not yet represented by counsel. “At that point we will all lose the opportunity to control the extent of the public relations damage and the true winners in this situation, as in the case with Michigan State, will be the lawyers.”

A week after sending the letter, DiSabato and at least four other wrestlers have come forward claiming that powerful conservative Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) knew of or must have known about allegations of sexual abuse against Doctor Richard Strauss while he was an assistant wrestling coach at OSU decades ago.

OSU launched an independent investigation in April into the allegations against Strauss and whether enough was done to protect the students. Strauss killed himself in 2005.

But the latest accusations against Jordan have thrown the investigation into the national spotlight.

“Doc Strauss was a serial groper of our bodies, including of our testicles,” DiSabato told CNN last week. “I consider Jim a friend, but for whatever reason, he has made the decision to deny something that absolutely happened. He had knowledge of it. His locker was next to Doc Strauss.”

Other former Buckeye wrestlers, like Nick Nutter, say they experienced sexual abuse at the hands of Strauss, but say they believe Jordan was unaware of what was going on.

Fourteen other wrestlers went on the record Tuesday to refute claims that Jordan knew or must have known that student athletes were allegedly being abused by Strauss in the 1980s and 90s.

“Jim Jordan was almost intimidatingly a goody two-shoes. I never heard the man cuss. If I was near him, I would never even say the word penis because I would hate for him to judge me and think I’m a sinner and deviant,” Nutter told The Hill in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

“Of all people, he [Jim Jordan] is the guy I would never, ever tell. Because 1. I’m embarrassed and 2. I wouldn’t want him to think I’m a deviant person.”

Nutter said Strauss would make excuses to grope his genitalia — such as “checking his lymph nodes” — even when he would go in with a broken finger.

The All-American wrestler says every time he was injured, he would grapple with whether it was worth a visit to Strauss.

“Every time I got hurt I would think, how bad is it? Will it go away on its own? I figured my co-pay was a groping to get medicine,” he told The Hill. “I probably let some sicknesses go on because I didn’t want to go see Dr. Strauss.”

Jordan, who has adamantly denied he knew about the allegations of abuse, has called the timing of the accusations against himself “suspicious.” In an interview with Fox News last week, Jordan also pointed out that DiSabato has a criminal record and has said the wrestler has a “vendetta” against Jordan’s family and the school.

DiSabato has a long history of litigation, including a 2007 suit against OSU over a merchandising dispute, according to the university’s student newspaper.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: jimjordan; ohio; ohiostate

1 posted on 07/11/2018 9:14:59 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen
“Doc Strauss was a serial groper of our bodies, including of our testicles,”

If a college wrestler does not respond to a man's advances with a thorough thrashing, he has no testicles.

2 posted on 07/11/2018 9:22:40 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (President Trump divides Americans . . . from anti-Americans.)
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To: yesthatjallen

Sounds like he tried to shake-down the University a month ago. When that wasn’t satisfactory, he went public with allegations — from decades previous.

How could he prove anything? The doctor died in 2005.

And the law firm is one related to the Clintons/Dems and the Russian dossier.


3 posted on 07/11/2018 9:32:57 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: yesthatjallen

This sort of “abuse” is pervasive throughout America. At its core, homosexuality is the sexual molestation and imprinting of vulnerable young boys. The current and relatively recent celebration of homosexuality in the culture makes such molestations easier for the vile predators. Good and caring parents must be very diligent to protect their sons.


4 posted on 07/11/2018 9:40:10 PM PDT by allendale (.)
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To: allendale
This sort of “abuse” is pervasive throughout America. At its core, homosexuality is the sexual molestation and imprinting of vulnerable young boys.

When I was in high school I could "cling and jerk" 200 lbs. Others on our football team could do even more. If our doc had of molested any of us it would have not been pretty for the doc. We would have kicked his ass. Our doc did not molest us. He was a good guy.

5 posted on 07/11/2018 9:50:11 PM PDT by cpdiii (Cane Cutter, Roughneck, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist: THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
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To: yesthatjallen
I guess this wasn't important enough to be put in bold letters.

"Fourteen other wrestlers went on the record Tuesday to refute claims that Jordan knew or must have known that student athletes were allegedly being abused by Strauss in the 1980s and 90s".

6 posted on 07/11/2018 9:52:08 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Don't pass up the opportunity to use the Second Amendment today! IT'S FREE!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...
...former OSU wrestler Mike DiSabato said he had no intention of causing a "public relations nightmare" but warned that he would "pursue other avenues toward resolution" if a meeting was not set up with university representatives to discuss a potential settlement... A week after sending the letter, DiSabato and at least four other wrestlers have come forward claiming that powerful conservative Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) knew of or must have known about allegations of sexual abuse against Doctor Richard Strauss while he was an assistant wrestling coach at OSU decades ago... Strauss killed himself in 2005... DiSabato told CNN last week. "I consider Jim a friend, but for whatever reason, he has made the decision to deny something that absolutely happened. He had knowledge of it. His locker was next to Doc Strauss." Other former Buckeye wrestlers, like Nick Nutter, say they experienced sexual abuse at the hands of Strauss, but say they believe Jordan was unaware of what was going on. Fourteen other wrestlers went on the record Tuesday to refute claims that Jordan knew or must have known that student athletes were allegedly being abused by Strauss in the 1980s and 90s... Nutter said Strauss would make excuses to grope his genitalia -- such as "checking his lymph nodes" -- even when he would go in with a broken finger... Jordan, who has adamantly denied he knew about the allegations of abuse, has called the timing of the accusations against himself "suspicious." In an interview with Fox News last week, Jordan also pointed out that DiSabato has a criminal record and has said the wrestler has a "vendetta" against Jordan’s family and the school. DiSabato has a long history of litigation, including a 2007 suit against OSU over a merchandising dispute, according to the university’s student newspaper.
Thanks yesthatjallen.

7 posted on 07/11/2018 10:13:45 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
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To: yesthatjallen

>> The All-American wrestler says every time he was injured, he would grapple with whether it was woth a visit to Strauss.

That’s not all he was grappling with.


8 posted on 07/11/2018 10:27:32 PM PDT by Lisbon1940 (No full-term Governors (at the time of election!)
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To: yesthatjallen

Last I checked, by the time athletes enter college, they’re well-developed young who would easily beat down anyone attempting to do to them what this doctor supposedly did. So.. let me get this straight — we’re expected to believe these wrestlers were just passive little waifs tearfully and silently undergoing sexual abuse at Ohio State.


9 posted on 07/12/2018 1:54:48 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Liberals, piss off. That is all.)
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To: ScottinVA

*young men


10 posted on 07/12/2018 1:55:09 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Liberals, piss off. That is all.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

“If a college wrestler does not respond to a man’s advances with a thorough thrashing, he has no testicles”

Or he consented.


11 posted on 07/12/2018 1:56:43 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Liberals, piss off. That is all.)
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To: yesthatjallen

Aren’t wrestlers prone to hernias and Hemorrhoids caused by straining and require frequent exams for such?


12 posted on 07/12/2018 2:37:55 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: cpdiii
"..When I was in high school I could "cling and jerk" 200 lbs. Others on our football team could do even more.."

I seems to me that a hernia check would be SOP for a doc who maintains athletes.

Also, it's funny to me how homosexualism is so "great" to the media types, till it isn't. The timing of this is very smelly. d:^)

13 posted on 07/12/2018 4:07:59 AM PDT by CopperTop (Outside the wire it's just us chickens. Dig?)
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To: allendale
At its core, homosexuality is the sexual molestation and imprinting of vulnerable young boys. The current and relatively recent celebration of homosexuality in the culture makes such molestations easier for the vile predators. Good and caring parents must be very diligent to protect their sons.

And Dr. Larry Nassar molested young girls at Michigan State. My point is that sexual predators and molesters are equal opportunity perverts.

14 posted on 07/12/2018 4:19:19 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: Jeff Chandler

I haven’t seen what actually occurred except in broad terms, groping and fondling. Dr Strauss certainly would have to touch private areas to determine what problem could be involved. For example I could never do what urologists do as they perform some very nasty stuff that ain’t my ball of wax.
But it is absolutely necessary and potentially life saving. Normally I would think the media would be defending Dr Strauss and these crybabies would be labeled homophobes. Instead the media has made a circus out of it that is obviously an effort to slander Jim Jordan to derail his effort to become the House speaker.


15 posted on 07/12/2018 4:56:51 AM PDT by Rock N Jones (1935)
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To: yesthatjallen
“I consider Jim a friend, but for whatever reason, he has made the decision to deny something that absolutely happened. He had knowledge of it. His locker was next to Doc Strauss.”

Wait, what's that again? If his 'locker' had been down the hall a piece, he would have been in the clear?

16 posted on 07/12/2018 5:12:08 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Apparently I voted demoncrat for 40 years. They all wore 'R' jerseys! 'R'atpublicans!)
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To: BlackbirdSST
He had knowledge of it. His locker was next to Doc Strauss.”

So Doc Strauss was doing the exams by his locker?

17 posted on 07/12/2018 5:16:56 AM PDT by BlueLancer (Antifa and Social Justice Warriors (SJWs) = SturmAbteilung)
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To: BlueLancer
So Doc Strauss was doing the exams by his locker?

When things make no sense...this whole incident is contrived BS.

18 posted on 07/12/2018 6:03:24 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Apparently I voted demoncrat for 40 years. They all wore 'R' jerseys! 'R'atpublicans!)
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To: yesthatjallen

Guilty by unsubstaniated innuendo, and it is a long standing news media practice, before the “victims” agendas ever got a hold of it.


19 posted on 07/12/2018 6:26:18 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: allendale

The left must decide if homosexuality is a good thing or a bad thing. They want to have it both ways, whenever it’s convenient.


20 posted on 07/12/2018 6:29:43 AM PDT by Wm F Buckley Republican (?)
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