A college wrestling referee claimed in a new lawsuit that he told Rep. Jim Jordan, (R-Ohio), two decades ago that an Ohio State University team doctor who has been accused of sexually assaulting students had masturbated in the shower in front of him.
But Jordan, who at the time was an assistant Ohio State wrestling coach – and then OSU head coach Russ Hellickson who was also told about the incident – just shrugged off the shocking claim about Dr. Richard Strauss, the suit says.
Jordan and Hellickson responded “Yeah, that’s Strauss,” according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Columbus, Ohio.
. . . The referee, identified in court papers as “John Doe 42” is the second person who says in legal filings that he told Jordan about being sexually approached or molested by Strauss, who since has died.
Multiple former wrestlers who were coached by Jordan during their time at Ohio State University have previously accused him of turning a blind eye to the abuse.
Jordan’s spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Jordan has repeatedly denied knowing of the alleged abuse by Strauss.
“It’s not true,” the congressman told Politico in July last year.
“I never knew about any type of abuse. If I 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.”
Saint Puce