'I would have done something': Jordan rebuts claims he knew of abuse

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




The Freedom Caucus leader gives his first interview about a news report suggesting he ignored sexual abuse by a colleague decades ago.

By RACHAEL BADE and JOHN BRESNAHAN 07/03/2018 11:25 PM EDT

Rep. Jim Jordan emphatically denied allegations that he intentionally overlooked widespread sexual abuse of wrestlers whom he coached decades ago, telling POLITICO in a Tuesday night interview that he would have taken action had he known of the alleged behavior.

The Ohio Republican, a former assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, refuted accusations that he was aware of the university’s sports physician molesting student-athletes. Three former team wrestlers told NBC News that Jordan knew about the alleged abuse — or would have had to been willfully ignorant not to be aware of what they called an open secret. But the co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus said his accusers are lying. Jordan said he would not have hesitated to come forward to report sexual abuse.

“It’s not true,” Jordan said. “I never knew about any type of abuse. If I did, I would have done something about it. And look, if there are people who are abused, then that’s terrible and we want justice to happen.”

In the NBC report, three former wrestlers who trained under Jordan — including two who were named in the story — accused Jordan of ignoring sexual abuse. They argued that it was common knowledge that the college physician, Richard Strauss, would regularly shower with the students and touch them inappropriately during examinations.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/03/jordan-wrestling-abuse-ohio-state-693701

[beachbum bob]

1. so what happens when dozens of victims step forward and say they told Jordan? That is how this goes,

you have the abuse, you have the cover-up and all sorts of people in between who knew what was going on. I hope he is sued and Ohio State is sued and cost them $$$$$

[Kingofalldems]

30. They'll get death threats from Trump trolls.

That's a given.

[True Blue American]

2. Jordan

Caught by his hypocritical balls.

I do not believe him. Always considered him a blow hard fake!

[louis c]

3. Wouldn't it be real justice if..,

Rod Rosenstein got to ask Jim Jordan about this in an official Justice Dept. investigation.

I'd pay to see that.

[peekaloo]

14. especially if he prefaced his remarks with

"not to make this personal" .....

[mitch96]

17. Rosenstein is prolly doing a happy dance..

Jordan's cred is shot....
m

[mtngirl47]

4. Resign. Resign NOW! n/t

[Ohiogal]

5. Jordan seems exactly like the weasel-ly type

who would ignore a great injustice and horror if it made his knowledge of it reflect badly on him. Because, it's all about him and his image.

[yardwork]

11. Of course. That's exactly what he's doing now. Well said.

[safeinOhio]

6. Sargent Shultz

I see nothing.

[Submariner]

7. Jordan just saw his hopes to be president someday blow up in his face

couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[usaf-vet]

24. Don't forget the "pussy grabbing" con man in the White House

Apparently anything is possible in today politics. Jordan in the typical deranged mind set of todays Trump voters might be just they are looking for. Another pervert, con man, bully and of course liar.

[dalton99a]

8. What a load of bullshit. He knew.

[Maeve]

9. "And look, IF there are people who are abused...."

No 'if' about it, you disgrace.

[greatlaurel]

22. I sasw that too. Thanks for pointing it out.

The shame is there is not more outrage over this. Although the university is going to need to throw someone under the bus for ignoring these assaults for decades.

[amcgrath]

10. In these cases

It's always hard to tell what went on before we have heard more formal testimony from those that were abused.

There is also the fact that people are innocent until proven guilty.

In the meantime all we can do is ask ourselves if Jordan seems like the sort of guy who would go out on a limb to protect somebody accused of immoral and illegal behaviour, if he thought it would be advantageous to himself.

[Squinch]

12. Jordan would pump his mother if he thought it would be

advantageous to himself. Republican family values.

[Grins]

13. That must have been a wild office! Well....look what I found!!!

Wasn't even looking for it. Pure chance. From my "Republicans" file last November:
==========================

Another Republican caught with a man in his mouth.

A married former aide to U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), submitted a two-sentence resignation letter to the Ohio state Republican Party.

It seems Christian “family values” Republican, Wes Goodman, engaged in “inappropriate conduct” with another man at his legislative office.

“I was alerted to details yesterday afternoon regarding his involvement in inappropriate behavior related to his state office. I met with him later in the day where he acknowledged and confirmed the allegations.” - State House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R), trying to hide the body.

Per the usual script in these circumstances, said Goodman later:

"As I move onto the next chapter of my life, I sincerely ask for privacy for myself, my family, and my friends.”

Sure you do.

[peekaloo]

15. I remember that!

merely taking dictation......

[Faux pas]

16. He's a lying sack,

just like the rest of them.

[Jim__]

18. Jordan also doesn't see any signs of collusion with Russia.

He's either a liar or an idiot. Or, he could be both.

[dhill926]

19. well asshole.....let the facts come out....

I would tend not to believe him at face value....

[greatlaurel]

20. There is a lot more dirt to uncover in Ohio about Jordan and the Ohio GOP

I just wish some good investigative reporters would spend time in Ohio doing research. The corruption from the GOP in Ohio is incredible. Almost all the news outlets are owned by right wing leaning organizations which never report on the GOP scandals unless it hits the national media first.

The selling off of Ohio's public assets like the State of Ohio prison farm lands is a disgrace and true theft. Now the state will have to purchase food from large corporations rather than have Ohio inmates work the farms. The inmates learned skills and the farm jobs were prized by inmates, so it encouraged good behavior. It saved the State of Ohio millions of dollars to grow the food for the prisons. Excess food generated by the prison farms was distributed to food pantries throughout the state. The news media never blinked an eye over this theft of public resources. The big excuse was there are no jobs in agriculture which is, of course, a absolute lie. Agriculture is a top industry in Ohio.

How much money did Jordan accept from Bill Lager, owner of ECOT charter schools? ECOT was finally exposed for the fraud that it was for inflating attendance numbers to the state. ECOT stole millions of dollars from the state and millions of dollars from local school districts who had to fund students from their districts who were supposedly enrolled in ECOT. This should be a nationally reported scandal which is tragically being ignored.

[usaf-vet]

27. Remember Ken Blackwell and the 2004 election counting irregularities in Ohio.

When he was Ohio Secretary of State.

The larger question is why hasn't the DNC / DCCC done something aggressively to address the election fraud (NOT VOTER FRAUD) that has been going on in nearly every national and state elections since at least 2004.

Republicans have been interfering in fair elections since at least 2004. Now in 2016 apparently they are willing to ignore the fact that a foreign power has interfered with a U.S. Presidential election.

It's all about winning for them. There are no limits to what they will do or tolerate to win and hold power.

While the democrats choose to play nice and be civil. IDIOTS!

Every single Congress member is apparently willing to ignore their oath of office.
To: "Support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic"

[Paladin]

21. I hope Jordan gets washed out of office for this.

The sooner the better.

[Gothmog]

23. Betty Bowers-It's like Pizzagate. Only true. And bigger. And Republican.

Link to tweet

[usaf-vet]

28. How does it feel to be on the HOT seat Congressman Jordan?

How does it feel? Do you think it is as much fun as your attacks on DOJ and FBI?

I'll take a wild guess and bet you DO NOT like the role reversal.

[47of74]

25. If you believe Jordan about anything I have the following for sale....

I can do cash or paypal.

[Historic NY]

26. Like keeping quiet.

[joanbarnes]

29. I thought they already had proof....

I read in the form of an e-mail where he asked to be left out of it.

[sarcasmo]

31. Joe Paterno used this excuse too

[DeminPennswoods]

36. That's not correct

Paterno actually said that in hindsight, he wished he'd done more that just reporting what he was told to the AD. To be fair to Paterno, there were many other people along the way who could have done more to stop Sandusky as well.

FTR, I am a PSU alumni and have read the entire "Freeh Report".

[sarcasmo]

37. Joe Paterno "wished he done more" Jim Jordan " I would have punched the trainer if I knew"

Yep, totally different.

[irisblue]

32. From the article.

snip...."Jordan also pushed back on suggestions from a law firm investigating the Strauss allegations that he had ignored inquiries about the abuse. Kathleen Trafford, a partner with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, provided a statement through Ohio State to The Washington Post stating that Jordan had not responded to emails or phone calls seeking an interview with him."


That law firm is very very connected to OSU& the state GOP. He's burning bridges.

[Julian Englis]

33. I wonder if he tried to get Denny Hastert pictures? n/t

[DoctorJoJo]

34. Jordan Is The Very Epitome of a Lying Sack of Shit!

[DeminPennswoods]

35. Allegedly witnessed lewd acts

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ex-wrestler-says-rep-jim-jordan-witnessed-lewd-shower-acts-coach-ohio-state-001134484.html

DiSabato told CNN’s Brooke Baldwin on Wednesday that not only was Jordan aware of the alleged abuse, but that he witnessed inappropriate behavior from Strauss in the team shower.

DiSabato described an environment where student-athletes shared a shower with multiple staff and faculty members who “were involved in lewd acts that included public masturbation” and “excessive soaping of their groin area.”



Despite Rep. Jim Jordan's denials, ex-Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato maintains Jordan knew of abuse allegations: "I talked to Jim Jordan… These conversations were not individual conversations, they were…with a group of athletes" https://t.co/IplsCFDsrn

— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) July 4, 2018


“Dr Strauss was one of those that took a lot of showers and soaped himself a lot,” DiSabato saidl. “So, when you look at the definition of sexual abuse and sexual assault — and Jim Jordan just went on record saying he knew about the facilities — he took showers with us. He saw Dr. Strauss and others perform these kinds of acts in front of us.”

I will bet within the next 2 weeks Jordan will resign his seat.