COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio congressman isn’t being truthful when asserting he was unaware of allegations that a now-dead team doctor was abusing athletes, according to two former university wrestlers.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a former standout college wrestler at the University of Wisconsin and later a coach at Ohio State, knew when he was at the university that the doctor was groping male wrestlers, said ex-wrestlers Mike DiSabato and Dunyasha Yetts.
The wrestlers’ allegations were first reported Tuesday by NBC. Mr. Jordan, a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, denies them.
Mr. Jordan, a founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, is one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress and a potential contender for speaker. He’s taken leading roles in fighting the Affordable Care Act and in pushing back against the government’s Russia investigation, most recently interrogating Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in committee.
Male athletes from 14 sports at Ohio State have reported alleged sexual misconduct by Richard Strauss, who was on the faculty and medical staff and published a variety of research. Mr. Strauss died in 2005, and it was ruled a suicide.
Ohio State has not released details about the claims but said more than 150 former students and witnesses have been interviewed so far. The school has urged anyone with information about Mr. Strauss to contact the independent investigators from Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie.
Perkins Coie also is reviewing whether Mr. Strauss examined high school students. The firm serving as counsel for Ohio State in the Strauss matter said Tuesday in a statement that Perkins Coie investigators had contacted Mr. Jordan’s office by email and phone. Perkins Coie also worked for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee — and helped pay for a dossier of unconfirmed accusations linking the Trump campaign to Russian intelligence.
Mr. Yetts, 47, of Steubenville said Mr. Strauss groped him at least three times during routine exams when he wrestled in the early to mid-1990s. Mr. Jordan was Mr. Yetts’ weight-class coach at the time, and the two spoke frequently about Mr. Strauss, he said. Mr. Jordan was among the people Mr. Yetts told about groping the first time in happened in 1992, Mr. Yetts told The Associated Press Tuesday.
“He’d even make comments, ‘This guy better not touch me,‘” Mr. Yetts said.
Beginning in 2007, Mr. Yetts served 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal mail fraud charges. Mr. Yetts was accused of bilking investors out of $1.8 million as part of an investment scheme he ran from 1998 to 2001.
Mr. Yetts, an operations manager for a gas drilling company, said Tuesday he has paid his debt for past mistakes. He said the fraud case has nothing to do with what he went through as a student-athlete.
Mr. DiSabato of Dublin in suburban Columbus also told the AP that Mr. Jordan had direct knowledge of the Strauss allegations. Mr. DiSabato, 50, said he was moved to tell Ohio State of Mr. Strauss’ actions after hearing accounts last year of gymnasts sexually abused by sports doctor Larry Nassar. Mr. DiSabato says he’s angered that Mr. Jordan hasn’t acknowledged the abuse.
A Twitter account that appeared to be Mr. DiSabato’s retweeted the NBC News story Tuesday. “THE VICTIMS OF SYSTEMIC SEXUAL ASSAULT at THE @OhioState will be HEARD LOUD & VERY CLEAR!” the post read.
Mr. Jordan’s spokesman said in a statement that the congressman never saw or heard about any abuse or had any abuse reported to him during his time at Ohio State.
“He has not been contacted by investigators about the matter but will assist them in any way they ask, because if what is alleged is true, the victims deserve a full investigation and justice,” said spokesman Ian Fury.
Late Tuesday, a law firm representing Ohio State contradicted that statement. An investigative legal team looking into the allegations against Mr. Strauss previously contacted Mr. Jordan’s office by phone and email requesting he participate in an interview, but Mr. Jordan did not respond, said Kathleen Trafford of Porter Wright in Columbus.
“The investigative team is continuing its efforts to schedule an interview with Rep. Jordan, as well as other individuals with potential knowledge relating to the allegations,” Mr. Trafford said.
Mr. Fury said the office can’t find a record of those requests but remains willing to assist investigators.
The U.S. House speaker’s office on Tuesday called the allegations against Mr. Jordan “serious.”
Doug Andres, a spokesman for GOP Speaker Paul Ryan, said the university has “rightfully initiated a full investigation into the matter” and the speaker will “await the findings of that inquiry.”
Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty to molesting women and girls under the guise of treatment and was caught with child pornography. He is serving three prison sentences that likely will keep him locked up for life.
The New York Times and The Washington Post contributed.
First Published: July 4, 2018, 2:23 a.m.
