Republican congressman Jim Jordan addressed allegations he failed to stop a team doctor from abusing wrestlers at Ohio State University during a Friday night interview on Fox News.
WATCH:
Former wrestlers for OSU’s program recently claimed that Jordan was aware of and did nothing about Dr. Richard Strauss’s allegedly inappropriate relationships with team members. Jordan has denied that he knew anything about the alleged abuse. (RELATED: Report: Jim Jordan Under Fire For Allegedly Not Stopping Team Doctor From Molesting Wrestlers)
Jordan continued these denials and questioned the motivations of the wrestlers coming forward during an interview with FNC’s Bret Baier.
“It’s false,” Jordan started plainly.
“I mean, I never saw, never heard of, never was told about any type of abuse,” Jordan asserted. “If I had been, I would have dealt with it. Our coaching staff, we would have dealt with it — these were our student athletes. A good coach puts the interests of his student athletes first.”
Responding to allegations that he talked about the abuse at the time with wrestler Mike DiSabato, Jordan said that “conversations in a locker room” are different than actual reports of abuse. Jordan also attacked DiSabato’s credibility and slammed CNN for “[putting] him on TV three times in one day.” (RELATED: Jim Jordan’s Accusers Have A Sketchy History, Raising Questions About Their ‘Authenticity’)
“Mike DiSabato has a vendetta against Ohio State,” Jordan said. “He lost a licensing agreement with Ohio State. He is out to get Ohio State. He has a vendetta against our family. He was arrested just five months ago threatening Chris Spielman’s lawyer and Chris Spielman. He’s got all kinds of lawsuits against him.”