Rep. Jim Jordan, pictured, has repeatedly denied knowledge of sexual abuse allegations tied to the late Dr. Richard Strauss, who killed himself in 2005. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo Jordan interviewed in Ohio State University sex abuse investigation

Rep. Jim Jordan has been interviewed as part of an ongoing internal investigation into a sex abuse scandal at Ohio State University, the Ohio Republican said on Wednesday.

Jordan — who has gained a national following as the leader of the hardline House Freedom Caucus — told an Ohio radio program that he spoke with lawyers conducting the inquiry. That session took place on Monday.


Jordan has repeatedly denied knowledge of sexual abuse allegations tied to the late Dr. Richard Strauss, who killed himself in 2005.

Strauss was a team doctor for a number of OSU sports programs from the 1970s into the 1990s, including the wrestling team. Jordan, an elite college wrestler, was an assistant coach on the OSU wrestling team from 1986 to 1994.

"The interview took place Monday morning in Ohio," said Ian Fury, Jordan's spokesman, in a statement. "Congressman Jordan told the investigators the same thing he’s told you folks in the media since day one: he never saw any abuse, never heard of any abuse, and never had any abuse reported to him."

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Fury declined to provide details about the interview, including whether Jordan was accompanied by an attorney during the session. Through his campaign committee, Jordan has retained a PR firm to help deal with the political fallout from the OSU scandal.

Jordan was named in a federal class-action lawsuit filed on Tuesday by an unnamed plaintiff who said he was molested repeatedly by Stauss. However, there is no evidence in the filing that contradicts Jordan's claim he was unaware of any alleged abuse by Strauss.

Jordan has suggested that attempts to tie him to Strauss are related to his efforts to investigate Justice Department and FBI officials involved in the Russia election meddling probe, although he has offered no evidence to substantiate that claim.

More than half a dozen former OSU wrestlers have come forward to say Jordan knew about the abuse.