Former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman has became the fifth former Ohio State University wrestler to claim publicly that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) knew about allegations of sexual misconduct by a team doctor when he was an assistant coach in the 1990s.
Coleman, who roomed with Jordan during team trips and says he considers the lawmaker a friend, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that unless Jordan has “dementia,” he knew about the allegations surrounding Dr. Richard Strauss.
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“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,” Coleman said. “I have nothing but respect for this man, I love this man, but he knew as far as I’m concerned.”
Jordan, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, has denied any knowledge of the claims against Strauss, which state that Strauss conducted full-body examinations of athletes for even minor injuries, as well as showered with team members.
“I would have done something about it,” Jordan said in an interview with Politico. “If there was abuse, we want justice done. There’s no room for this kind of behavior.”
NBC News reported earlier this week that three former athletes had initially come forward, alleging that the abuse was an open secret at Ohio State and that it was impossible for Jordan to not have known.
“I considered Jim Jordan a friend,” former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato told NBC. “But at the end of the day, he is absolutely lying if he says he doesn’t know what was going on.”
President Trump has defended Jordan over the claims that he knew about the allegations, saying Thursday that he doesn’t believe Jordan covered up sexual abuse.
“I don’t believe them at all. I believe him,” Trump told reporters. “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.”