President Trump said Thursday that he “100 percent” believes Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) denial of allegations that he knew of sexual abuse taking place on the Ohio State University wrestling team while he served as assistant coach.
“I don’t believe them at all. I believe him,” Trump told reporters of the claims against Jordan. “Jim Jordan is one of the most outstanding people I’ve met since I’ve been in Washington. I believe him 100 percent. No question in my mind.”
Trump’s backing of Jordan came as a fourth former Buckeye wrestler told NBC News that Jordan knew the team’s doctor was sexually abusing student athletes, but failed to do anything to stop it.
{mosads}Dr. Richard Strauss, who died in 2005, would allegedly shower with the athletes and inappropriately touch them during appointments.
NBC News had reported on Tuesday that three former wrestlers said it would have been impossible for Jordan not to have known about the sexual misconduct, and one said he told Jordan directly.
“What happened drove me out of the sport. So I was surprised to hear Jim say that he knew nothing about it,” said the fourth wrestler to come forward, John Dailey. “Jimmy’s a good guy. But to say that he had no knowledge of it, I would say that’s kind of hurtful.”
Jordan denied the allegations to Politico on Wednesday, saying he never knew of any abuse and that if he 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,” he said.