TPM:
Two more former Ohio State wrestlers came forward Thursday to claim that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) knew about allegations of rampant sexual abuse carried out by the team doctor while Jordan was the assistant coach, despite his denials.
This brings the total up to five of Jordan’s former wrestlers accusing him of lying.
Two more former Ohio State wrestlers came forward Thursday to claim that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) knew about allegations of rampant sexual abuse carried out by the team doctor while Jordan was the assistant coach, despite his denials.
This brings the total up to five of Jordan’s former wrestlers accusing him of lying.
“I participated with Jimmy and the other wrestlers in locker-room talk about Strauss. We all did,” Dailey told NBC, referring to Jordan. “It was very common knowledge in the locker room that if you went to Dr. Strauss for anything, you would have to pull your pants down.”
NBC reported earlier this week the accounts of three other former wrestlers who alleged similar experiences with Strauss. Dailey confirmed the account of one of them, Dunyasha Yetts.
“Dunyasha comes back and tells Jimmy, ‘Seriously, why do I have to pull down my pants for a thumb injury?’” Dailey said. “Jimmy said something to the extent of, ‘If he tried that with me, I would kill him.’”
Daily added that his coming forward is in no way politically motivated, as he is a Republican and has contributed to Jordan’s campaign in the past.
“What happened drove me out of the sport,” said Dailey told NBC. “So I was surprised to hear Jim say that he knew nothing about it.”
“Jimmy’s a good guy,” he added. “But to say that he had no knowledge of it, I would say that’s kind of hurtful.”
A Thursday Wall Street Journal report contained another account of utter disbelief that Jordan would feign ignorance, as the allegations of assault were so widespread.
“There’s no way unless he’s got dementia or something that he’s got no recollection of what was going on at Ohio State,” Mark Coleman, former Ohio State wrestler and UFC world champion, told the Wall Street Journal. “I have nothing but respect for this man, I love this man, but he knew as far as I’m concerned.”
Strauss committed suicide in 2005 and a university investigation into his conduct has since been opened.
Jordan has consistently denied that he had any knowledge of the abuse allegations. President Donald Trump lent his support to Jordan on Thursday, saying that he doesn’t “believe [the wrestlers] at all” and only believes Jordan.
Though investigators’ initial emails were sent to Jordan via a bad email address,communication has now been straightened out and an interview with Jordan is in the works.
Yes, Jordan deserves due process and a presumption of innocence, despite giving those to no one else who has entered his crosshairs. In Congress, that means an Ethics Committee investigation. The accusations in this case precede Jordan’s time in Congress. And I think the House Ethics Committee’s purview may not extend to that. But from what I can tell there’s been no move to call for any investigation from Jordan’s Republican colleagues.
Indeed, Rep. Mark Meadows, head of the authoritarian-leaning “Freedom Caucus” which Jordan founded, has suggested that accusations themselves may be part of some “deep state” conspiracy to derail Jordan’s bid for the Speakership. “I know it’s not true,” said Meadows who did not know Jordan at the time and has not investigated the matter: “I think in time it will all come out that not only did Jim not know anything about it, but if he had, he would have acted upon it.” President Trump agrees that the accusers are not telling the truth: “I Don’t Believe Them At All.”
Doesn’t sound like a deep state conspiracy to me:
That fourth wrestler called Jordan “a close friend,” and "said he is a Republican and that he contributed to [Jordan's] first political campaign for state rep in 1994."
“Jimmy’s a good guy. But to say that he had no knowledge of it, I would say that’s kind of hurtful.”
— Jessica Luther (@jessicawluther) July 5, 2018