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Showing Original Post only (View all)'I would have done something': Jordan rebuts claims he knew of abuse [View all]
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 universitys 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.
Its 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 thats 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