Fourth Ohio State wrestler says Rep. Jim Jordan knew of team doctor's abuse

Steve Gardner | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Congressman denies knowledge of Ohio State abuse Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan is once again denying claims that he knew two decades ago of abuse allegations against an Ohio State team doctor. (July 6)

A fourth former wrestler has come forward to contradict U.S. Representative Jim Jordan's claims that he had no knowledge of athletes being sexually abused by a team doctor while Jordan was an assistant coach at Ohio State in the mid-1990s.

Shawn Dailey told NBC News he was groped several times by Richard Strauss — and Jordan was present with other wrestlers in the team locker room when they discussed Strauss' actions.

"It was very common knowledge in the locker room that if you went to Dr. Strauss for anything, you would have to pull your pants down.” Dailey, 43, said.

Three other former Ohio State wrestlers have claimed Strauss's groping of student athletes was widely known at the university. "Doc Strauss was a serial groper," Mike DiSabato told USA TODAY. "Everyone knew, including Jim."

In April, Ohio State announced it was opening an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Strauss.

Jordan worked as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1987 until 1995 before going into politics. He was elected to the House in 2006.

He has denied any knowledge of the alleged abuse, telling reporters at a Fourth of July rally the allegations are "just not accurate."

"Never heard of abuse, and if we had, we'd have reported it. The things (DiSabato) said about me were just flat out not true," Jordan said.

Meanwhile, President Trump has thrown his support behind the Ohio Republican.

"I don’t believe them at all. I believe him. Jim Jordan is one of the most outstanding people I’ve met since I’ve been in Washington. I believe him 100 percent," Trump said Thursday, according to the Washington Post.

"I don’t believe them at all. I believe him. Jim Jordan is one of the most outstanding people I’ve met since I’ve been in Washington," Trump said. I believe him 100 percent. No question in my mind. I believe Jim Jordan 100 percent. He’s an outstanding man." — Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) July 5, 2018

Strauss, who served as the Ohio State wrestling team's doctor from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, died in 2005.

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