Rep. Jim Jordan Questions ‘Timing’ of Allegations He Ignored Sexual Abuse: It ‘Makes You Wonder’

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) held an impromptu presser with reporters at a July 4th parade in Ohio, where he was bombarded with questions over allegations that he ignored sexual abuse as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University.

In an NBC News report, former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato claimed Jordan ignored allegations of sexual abuse against the team’s doctor when the congressman was the university’s assistant wrestling coach.

“I know Jim knew about what I called the deviant sexual atmosphere that we were exposed to,” DiSabato said on CNN this morning.

Jordan, a House Freedom Caucus founder who coached wrestling at Ohio State from 1986 to 1994, again denied he had any knowledge of the allegations to reporters at the parade.

“Mike wrestled for us, he was a friend,” Jordan said of DiSabato. “But something’s changed. You know, the things he said are just not true. We knew of no abuse. Never heard of abuse. If we had, we would have reported it.”

“Things they said about me just were flat-out not true,” he added.

One reporter asked Jordan about “the timing” of the allegations, given they stem from decades ago, and the congressman has gained prominence this year. He is even in the running to replace Paul Ryan as the next House Speaker.

“Look, the timing makes you wonder,” Jordan replied after a pause. “All I know is, it’s not true.”

“It’s interesting that the timing is what it is, in light of things that are going on in Washington,” he added.

Jordan was also asked specifically about the alleged abuser Dr. Richard Strauss, who died in 2005, and is alleged to have molested team members when he worked as the team’s doctor.

The Republican lawmaker said he “knew the doctor,” “but there’s no truth to the fact that I knew of any abuse.”

DiSabato told NBC Jordan “is absolutely lying if he says he doesn’t know what was going on,” and said on CNN he “absolutely” spoke to his coach about the abuse.

[image via screengrab]

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