Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, a former assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University (OSU), has been in the news for allegations that he ignored sexual abuse while working at the university in the 1980s and 90s. The allegations first emerged in 2018, but they have resurfaced recently as Jordan has been campaigning to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. Some former wrestlers have accused Jordan of turning a blind eye towards sexual abuse while working as an assistant wrestling coach at the university.
The scandal has gained national attention as several former wrestlers have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse by the team doctor, Richard Strauss. Strauss worked at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998, and he has been accused of abusing hundreds of male students during that time. The university has already settled with many of the victims for a total of $46.7 million, but some victims are still pursuing legal action against the school and individuals who they believe enabled Strauss’s abuse.
Jordan has denied any knowledge of the abuse and has insisted that he would have taken action if he had known about it. However, some former wrestlers have accused him of being complicit in the abuse or at least turning a blind eye to it. The scandal has raised questions about Jordan’s fitness to lead the House of Representatives and has led some to call for his resignation.
Who is Jim Jordan?
Jim Jordan is a Republican politician who has represented Ohio’s 4th congressional district in the US House of Representatives since 2007. He is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Prior to his political career, Jordan was a college wrestler and wrestling coach at Ohio State University. He coached at Ohio State between 1987 and 1995, and during his tenure, the university’s wrestling program was embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal.
Several former wrestlers have accused Jordan of turning a blind eye towards sexual abuse while working as an assistant wrestling coach at the university in the 1980s and 90s. Jordan has denied the allegations and has not been charged with any crimes related to the scandal.
Despite the allegations, Jordan has remained a prominent figure in conservative politics and has been mentioned as a potential candidate for Speaker of the House. However, the allegations have also drawn criticism from some quarters, with some calling for Jordan to resign from Congress.
The Wrestling Scandal
In 2023, several former Ohio State University wrestlers accused Rep. Jim Jordan of failing to protect them from a sexual predator when he was the team’s assistant coach in the 1980s and 1990s. The allegations were made public in the wake of Jordan’s bid for House Speaker.
According to the wrestlers, Jordan knew about the sexual abuse but did nothing to stop it. The abuse was allegedly perpetrated by Dr. Richard Strauss, who worked as a physician for the university’s athletic department. Strauss was accused of sexually assaulting and abusing at least 177 male students during his tenure at the university.
Jordan has denied the allegations, saying that he was not aware of any abuse. He has also accused the wrestlers of making false statements in an attempt to damage his political career.
The allegations have sparked controversy and calls for Jordan to resign from Congress. Some have also called for an investigation into the allegations and for those responsible for the abuse to be held accountable.
The scandal has also raised questions about the culture of college athletics and the responsibility of coaches and administrators to protect student-athletes from abuse. It has prompted discussions about the need for stronger laws and policies to prevent and address sexual abuse in sports and other institutions.
Allegations Against Jim Jordan
Jim Jordan, a Republican congressman from Ohio, has faced allegations of failing to protect wrestlers from sexual abuse during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University between 1987 and 1995.
In 2018, several former wrestlers accused Jordan of ignoring their reports of sexual abuse by the team doctor, Richard Strauss. Jordan has denied the allegations and has stated that he was not aware of any abuse taking place.
The allegations against Jordan gained renewed attention in 2023 when four former wrestlers accused him of betraying them and failing to protect them from Strauss. The wrestlers have stated that Jordan knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it.
The allegations against Jordan have been the subject of multiple investigations, including one by the U.S. House Ethics Committee. In 2023, the Supreme Court also enabled the remaining sex abuse victims to sue Ohio State University, which could potentially implicate Jordan in the scandal.
Despite the allegations, Jordan has not been arrested or charged with any crime related to the scandal. However, the allegations have raised questions about his fitness for public office and his bid for the position of House Speaker.
Jim Jordan’s Response
Jim Jordan has denied all allegations of covering up sexual abuse during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University in the 1980s and 90s. He has also denied having any knowledge of the abuse at the time it occurred.
In a statement released by his office, Jordan said, “I never knew about any abuse, never heard about any abuse, and never had any abuse reported to me during my time as a coach at Ohio State.” Jordan has also stated that he believes the allegations are politically motivated and part of a smear campaign against him.
Jordan has faced criticism for his handling of the allegations, with some accusing him of not doing enough to protect the wrestlers from abuse. However, he has maintained that he was not aware of any wrongdoing and that he took appropriate action when he did become aware of the allegations.
Jordan’s response has been met with mixed reactions, with some supporting his denial of the allegations and others calling for further investigation into the matter. The controversy has also affected Jordan’s bid for House Speaker, with some members of his own party distancing themselves from him.
Despite the allegations, Jordan has continued to serve in Congress and has not faced any charges related to the wrestling scandal.
Investigations and Findings
Jim Jordan, a Republican Representative from Ohio, has faced allegations of covering up sexual abuse during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University (OSU) from 1987 to 1995. The allegations stem from the time when Dr. Richard Strauss, a former team doctor, was accused of sexually abusing hundreds of male students.
An investigation conducted by OSU in 2019 found that Strauss had sexually abused at least 177 male students, with a majority of them being on the wrestling team. Several former wrestlers have accused Jordan of knowing about the abuse and not doing anything to stop it. However, Jordan has denied the allegations and stated that he was unaware of any abuse occurring at the time.
The allegations against Jordan have been the subject of several investigations. In 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to pursue charges against Jordan, stating that there was no evidence to support the allegations. However, the DOJ did not exonerate Jordan and left the possibility of charges open if new evidence emerged.
In 2021, a lawsuit filed by several former wrestlers against OSU was settled for $5.8 million. The settlement included an agreement to provide counseling services to the victims and to create a memorial on campus in their honor. Jordan was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but the settlement did not absolve him of any potential liability.
Despite the investigations and findings, Jordan has maintained his innocence and continued to serve as a Congressman. The allegations against him have also resurfaced during his bid for the position of House Speaker. However, it remains unclear if any new evidence will emerge that could lead to charges against him.
Legal Proceedings
As of October 2023, Jim Jordan has not been arrested in connection with the Ohio State wrestling scandal. However, several legal proceedings have been initiated against him and Ohio State University.
In May 2021, the Ohio State University agreed to pay $5.8 million to settle lawsuits filed by 23 former male students who accused Richard Strauss, an Ohio State physician, of sexually abusing them. The lawsuits alleged that Ohio State officials, including Jim Jordan, were aware of the abuse and failed to take appropriate action.
In August 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by four former wrestlers who accused Jordan of failing to protect them from Strauss’s abuse. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence that Jordan knew about the abuse at the time it occurred.
However, in June 2022, the same judge allowed a separate lawsuit filed by five other former wrestlers to proceed. The plaintiffs allege that Jordan and other Ohio State officials knew about Strauss’s abuse and failed to take action to stop it.
In response to the allegations, Jordan has denied any knowledge of the abuse and has criticized the lawsuits as politically motivated attacks against him.
The legal proceedings against Jordan and Ohio State University are ongoing, and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be.
