A bombshell NBC News story details allegations by several former Ohio State wrestlers accusing then assistant coach Jim Jordan, now a powerful Republican U.S. Congressman, of repeatedly ignoring reports that the team doctor was sexually molesting or abusing team members.
Calls are mounting for Rep. Jordan, who heads the far right wing House Freedom Caucus and is expected to run for Speaker, to resign.
As if the story wasn’t stunning enough, NBC updated its original reporting. It now includes the allegation that over the years the doctor, Richard Strauss, abused possibly thousands of students.
“Based on testimony from victim athletes from each of the aforementioned varsity sports, we estimate that Strauss sexually assaulted and/or raped a minimum of 1,500/2,000 athletes at OSU from 1978 through 1998,” NBC’s story states. The comment comes from Mike DiSabato, one of the wrestlers who says he was among those abused. He now runs a Columbus-based sports and entertainment agency. DiSabato adds that Rep. Jordan was told about the abuse, and is lying about claiming to have been unaware.
Jordan was the Ohio State’s assistant wrestling coach from 1987-1995. Dr. Strauss was the team physician from the 1970’s through to the late 1990’s. Jordan’s congressional spokesperson issued a strong denial, but Jordan has not personally commented yet.
Also not commenting are any Republican members of Congress, including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. It’s likely many are hoping the scandal will blow over, given the Fourth of July holiday.
But many are not ignoring the disturbing allegations by at least three of Jordan’s former wrestlers, and many are calling for the outspoken and conspiracy-throrist GOP congressman to resign.
Among them, veteran journalist Michelangelo Signorile, who is a host on SiriusXM Progress and the editor-at-large for HuffPost Queer Voices.
“Time for him to resign,” Signorile tweeted early Tuesday afternoon. He also makes the connection to Wes Goodman, a disgraced Ohio state lawmaker, who was forced to resign after more than two dozen men came forward to accuse him of sexual harassment. Goodman, Signorile notes, worked for Jordan.
Many others want Jordan to resign for ignoring, according to the accusations, the reports of sexual abuse, for years.
Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license