More Ohio State wrestlers say Rep. Jim Jordan knew of sexual abuse
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Corky Siemaszko 3 hrs ago
More former Ohio State University wrestlers have come forward to contradict Rep. Jim Jordan's claim that he had no idea the wrestling team doctor was molesting athletes.
One of the wrestlers, Shawn Dailey, said he was groped half a dozen times by Dr. Richard Strauss in the mid-1990s, when Jordan was the assistant wrestling coach. Dailey said he was too embarrassed to report the abuse directly to Jordan at the time, but he said Jordan took part in conversations where Strauss' abuse of many other team members came up.
"I participated with Jimmy and the other wrestlers in locker-room talk about Strauss. We all did," Dailey, 43, told NBC News, referring to Jordan. "It was very common knowledge in the locker room that if you went to Dr. Strauss for anything, you would have to pull your pants down."
Dailey spoke out two days after NBC News reported that three former wrestlers who were coached by Jordan more than two decades ago accused the GOP congressman of turning a blind eye to Strauss' alleged abuse and then lying about it. Jordan denied knowing anything about the abuse and continues to do so.
Dailey corroborated the account of one of those wrestlers, Dunyasha Yetts, who told NBC News that Yetts had protested to Jordan and head coach Russ Hellickson after Strauss tried to pull down his wrestling shorts when Yetts went to see him for a thumb injury.
"Dunyasha comes back and tells Jimmy, 'Seriously, why do I have to pull down my pants for a thumb injury?'" Dailey recalled. "Jimmy said something to the extent of, 'If he tried that with me, I would kill him.'"
Calling Jordan "a close friend," Dailey said he is a Republican and that he contributed to the powerful Ohio congressman's first political campaign for state representative in 1994.
"What happened drove me out of the sport," said Dailey, a married father of two who works as a fundraiser for an Ohio college. "So I was surprised to hear Jim say that he knew nothing about it."
"Jimmy's a good guy," Dailey added. "But to say that he had no knowledge of it, I would say that's kind of hurtful."
Also Thursday, Mark Coleman, another former wrestler and a former UFC world champion, told The Wall Street Journal that Jordan was aware of the abuse and had not taken action. "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," said Coleman, who said he was Jordan's roommate on several wrestling trips.
Jordan, via spokesman Ian Fury, has denied any knowledge of the abuse. On Wednesday, Jordan, a founder of the arch-conservative House Freedom Caucus, who has been floated to succeed retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan, repeated the denial in an interview with Politico.
"It's not true," said Jordan, who was assistant wrestling coach at the university from 1986 to 1994. "I never knew about any type of abuse. If I did, I would have done something about it."
Fury did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday after Dailey's remarks. But Jordan got a shoutout of support from President Donald Trump, who spoke to reporters Thursday on Air Force One.
"I don't believe them at all," Trump said of the allegations against Jordan. "I believe him. 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. I believe Jim Jordan 100 percent. He's an outstanding man."
Strauss died of suicide in 2005. The university opened an investigation into the abuse in April after former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato came forward with allegations.
The Perkins Coie law firm, which is overseeing the probe for the university, has interviewed more than 150 former students and witnesses so far, OSU officials said. Former athletes from 14 Ohio State sports have reported abuse by Strauss, the university said.
Dailey said he has spoken twice with investigators from Perkins Coie. Asked if they questioned him about Jordan's actions at the time, as well as the actions of the other coaches, Daily answered, "They did."
"I was one of the first five or 10 people they spoke with," Dailey said he was told by investigators. "They largely wanted to know what my experiences were, what had happened, if it had been reported."
Yetts and two other former Ohio State wrestlers previously told NBC News that it was common knowledge that Strauss showered regularly with the students and inappropriately touched them during appointments. Yetts, who served 18 months in prison for stealing nearly $2 million from investors, was the only wrestler who said he had directly reported the abuse to Jordan, but all three wrestlers said it would have been impossible for Jordan to be unaware of the abuse.
Hellickson, the former coach and Jordan's mentor, said in a recent video — made by DiSabato — that he had told Strauss that he was being too "hands on" with students.
The Perkins Coie investigators are in possession of that video, DiSabato said.
Fox News reported Thursday that Jordan has received what he described as threatening emails from DiSabato, including one that landed in his inbox early on Wednesday and was "the last straw." Jordan forwarded the emails to the U.S. Capitol Police, which is reviewing them, Fox reported. NBC News has reached out to the Capitol Police but has not confirmed the report.
Dailey said that after he left the team in 1996, he underwent counseling to deal with what happened.
"Over the years, I kind of beat myself up for not reporting it," he said. "There were so many signs about what Strauss was doing and that they were ignored. It's very frustrating."
Dailey said he's speaking out now because he knows it's hard for men to publicly acknowledge sexual abuse, and he wants to be an "advocate for men and boys to come forward with these issues."
"You get the sense that you're really not going to get justice," he said. "That's the part that bothers me the most. What happened was so widespread."
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Mr. Trump doesn't believe the victims......how surprised is anyone?
I'll be interested in learning what the investigation reveals.
It's Joe Paterno and Penn State all over again
I am not surprised by Mr. Trump's reaction. This is who he is. What I continue to hope for is that his followers will react differently. Show some compassion and interest in getting to the bottom of this abuse.
The evangelicals (some) will ignore this the same way they (some) ignored Trump's sexual offenses.
(some) = added to prevent confusion as to if it is a sweeping generalization
Or Dennis Hastert...
well good luck with your attempt to define what you mean by "some". It's safe to say you're not one of the members who is given the benefit of the doubt like some others. So much for being a good friend and dedicated member.
Yes, there doesn't seem to be much reaction from the religious faction from Mr. Trump's base. How this could ever be a topic that people would be divided on is baffling.
(most) should work too, right? It seems that (most) bible-babbling extremists, (most) conservatives and (most) Trump supporters have little if any problem with pussy grabbers, pedophiles or coaches or team doctors who sexually molest athletes. (of course not ALL of them are like that).
In fact they only disassociate themselves from the perp when it becomes politically awkward, like when it was learned that the FRC hate group had hired Josh "sister diddler" Duggar as their spokesman.
(maybe)?
Yes, agreed. The criteria for speaking out or believing victims seems to be driven by political viability and not what's right.
I used the phrase "Trump supporters" in a comment instead of "some Trump supporters", one of the right wingers here flagged it and my comment was deleted by a moderator. That is where we are at thanks to the "flagging" system, which apparently causes more harm than cure.
If I felt like it, I could flag a hundred comments here a day for "sweeping generalizations" the same or worse than mine. I assume the moderators wouldn't like that.
Get rid of "sweeping generalizations" . It is a joke.
I understand John. The flags are being used to manipulate conversations. There's nothing to be done about it. My position has always been that if someone is going to put it in writing then it should be there for the world to see and judge.
I use gaggle, like a gaggle of honking geese...Quite accurate if I say so myself.
I also use bunch. Difficult to determine how many are in a bunch or a bushel or a peck..or even a hug around the neck.
(Some) really are the safe space snowflakes they accuse others of being. (Many) claim they can't stand being "PC" but then get all bent out of shape if they ever feel lumped in with the Nazis, KKK and white supremacists they share a political party with. Personally, I've never flagged a comment before because I'm not so thin skinned as to care what some poorly educated bigot has to say about me. I couldn't care less if they call me every name in the book, I'm not a fragile snowflake who get's their panties in a bunch when someone confronts my beliefs. I'm able to defend my beliefs with logic, reason and facts instead of relying on some moderator to silence my adversaries as (most) of the conservatives seem to do when they receive even a smidgen of ridicule for their ignorant beliefs.
Hopefully I was careful enough here to not use "sweeping" generalizations that (many) conservative snowflakes apparently melt under.
And, it will probably be another railroading of someone whom is completely innocent, just like Paterno. Take it from someone who lived 9 miles from Beaver Stadium and the University Park campus and who had a friend that he didn't know was a serial rapist until that friend was charged in Florida.
EDIT: I lived in that area from 1979 to 2005, then again from 2008-2010. My family's dairy farm is still there and operating.
What surprises me is all of this coming from things that happened between 1986-1994 and involves a pervert who committed suicide in 2005!!!!!
Another dirty political plot.
Too bad Roy Cohn is gone. He would say "Jim, just give me their names."
Victims come forward when they find the strength to do so. This is still a developing story. I'm sure there will be more information that we learn as the investigation unfolds. It's possible that they tried to report the abuse earlier. What seems to be driving this is Mr. Jordan's claim he had no knowledge of the abuse. More victims are coming forward to dispute his denials.
I'm curious why Mr. Jordan has been relatively silent sans his initial response when the story first broke.
In the dirty world of politics they come out when someone finds a way to encourage them. Jim Jordan just handed Rosenstein his head. Wouldn't it be another masterstroke if progressives could open another seat? Like the masterstroke they pulled off in Alabama. BTW you can bet the house that Doug Jones will cross party lines to vote for Trump's Supreme Court pick.
I'm sure there will be more information that we learn as the investigation unfolds.
Exactly what is the purpose of the investigation?
Well Vic - The more important question "Is it True"? Were these boys molested? Did Mr. Jordan know and do nothing to protect the boys he was an assistant coach to?
Those are the questions we should focus on. You're trying to flip the issue to make it about a political backlash. Who cares why if it's true. The victims are what is important not Mr. Jordan's career or recent performance.
You agree that the victims are important, right?
Well PJ, your'e right that was the important question. I totally agree.
As to who knew about it way back then can best be answered by Hillary Clinton - "What difference does it make now"?
Are you suggesting Hillary Clinton was part of molesting the boys and/or covering it up?
Why are you trying to drag Hillary Clinton into this situation? Was she born male and wrestled for Ohio State in a previous life?
She didn't say 'now.' Hillary wasn't trying to say that it didn't matter that they named the video as a motivating factor because it happened long ago, she said it didn't matter, period. It didn't. First of all the video DID turn out to be a motivating factor even though it was planned. No one ever said that it was not planned and Obama referred to it as a terrorist attack the very next day in the Rose Garden.
There is nothing, absolutely NOTHING the least bit suspicious about the event or the response to it. There is absolutely NO reason to have ever even begun to think the Obama administration did anything wrong. The Benghazi! 'scandal' is complete and utter bullshit.
And you know what, Vic? I think you know all of this and agree with every word I said. You are simply voicing a completely disingenuous argument to make a dishonest attack.
Do you really think my use of her reasoning during the Benghazi hearings puts her into the Ohio State incident?
Just using her reasoning
You know what Lenny?
I'm not about to go into Benghazi with you, however you or others here may be interested to know that the man who made the video that the Obama administration famously lied about has been found recently:
"Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the Coptic Christian whose short video “The Innocence of Muslims” was initially faulted for sparking the Sept. 11, 2012 terror attack at U.S. diplomatic compounds in Libya, is now living in a homeless shelter run by First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif. He has served time in prison, been shamed publicly by the White House and threatened with death.
“I don’t believe in democracy anymore,” Nakoula told FoxNews.com. “I don’t think there is such a thing as freedom of speech.”
Are you suggesting Hillary Clinton was part of molesting the boys and/or covering it up?
Well, she does have a history of molesting children in back rooms of pizza parlors.
No,
I just wanted to see what you'd say.
Look, you are comparing two very different issues which I think is a dishonest approach. That's why I asked the question. Also, I'd rather not every article posted turn into whataboutism.
If you don't believe the story and/or you're not willing to wait until more information is learned then just say that.
Haha, Ya right!
If you don't believe the story and/or you're not willing to wait until more information is learned then just say that.
Which story? You've moved goal posts here and Iv'e been very clear. If we are talking about what the dead coach did long ago, I'm all in on getting the facts and providing justice. On the other hand if the story is really about enabling the political assassination on Jim Jordan, I'm calling it out for what it is!
If you're position is so strong then you don't need to drag in Hillary Clinton into the conversation.
It doesn't matter what the primary objective was when this story broke. If Mr. Jordan ignored his wrestlers about the abuse then it speaks to his character and he shouldn't be in Congress.
Personally, I believe he absolutely knew what was happening to those boys. He kept his mouth shut because he didn't want it to impact his position and future opportunities. I believe this because I've watched him lie, fabricate, and refuse to acknowledge the truth and facts in order to move his agenda and career forward while he's been a Congressman.
I don't know what the outcome of this investigation will be so I could absolutely be wrong. And that, dear Vic, is the difference between you and me. I can say that I may be wrong but you refuse to even entertain the fact that the story is true.
Just for giggles, let's say "The politco's" manage to get Jordan out of office. These accusers will never be heard from again !
Based on past accusations about the past, even against Democrats, this is how it always plays out. "Poof".... and it's gone !
Maybe ten years ago it would have been important, not now. That's the problem with very old stuff coming out on the eve of elections. They were dug up by the opposition!
Personally, I believe he absolutely knew what was happening to those boys.
Of course you do
He kept his mouth shut because he didn't want it to impact his position and future opportunities.
Yup, he knew, even then he was destined for Congress and the best thing to do was leave a big snafu that could bring down his career!
I believe this because I've watched him lie, fabricate, and refuse to acknowledge the truth and facts in order to move his agenda and career forward while he's been a Congressman.
You believe that because maybe, just maybe, your'e part of the opposition - the progressive opposition, which believes in the end justifies the means
I don't know what the outcome of this investigation will be so I could absolutely be wrong.
Again, which investigation? The investigation of sexual assault by a dead coach or the political assassination of Jim Jordan?
And that, dear Vic, is the difference between you and me. I can say that I may be wrong but you refuse to even entertain the fact that the story is true.
No dearest PJ, the difference between you and I is the ability to admit the obvious.
Correct
We shall see (Pj says in a sing song voice)
What a wonderful voice!!
tracking
Drip, drip, drip: That's always the way these things begin, then the truth comes rushing out and the mea culpas begin. Seems that the self righteous keep tripping over their own hypocrisies.
It will be nice to see this prick slowly roasting in the fires of public opinion.
Jordan has to deny it. Those that he groped, jerked off, blew, and sodomized have yet to come forward.
I am locking this article. I have commitments today and will not be around to monitor.