Jim Jordan’s name comes up during Statehouse testimony on OSU abuse victims bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio — ​U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s name came up Tuesday during a Statehouse hearing on a bill that would pave the way for victims of former Ohio State University doctor Richard Strauss to sue the university for damages.

Adam DiSabato, a former captain of the OSU wrestling team during the late 80s and early 90s, told members of the House Civil Justice Committee that Jordan and other team officials knew about open-shower team facilities that facilitated sexual harassment and abuse of team wrestlers​, an allegation Jordan has denied.

He also said Jordan called him repeatedly in July 2018, after media outlets quoted his brother, Michael DiSabato, saying Strauss’ abuse was common knowledge to those surrounding the wrestling program, including Jordan.

“Jim Jordan called me crying, groveling… begging me to go against my brother…That’s the kind of cover-up that’s going on there,” he said.

“Are you guys going to do what you’re voted to do?” he told lawmakers later. “That’s the only reason I’m here.”

Jordan, an assistant coach for the wrestling team at OSU from 1987 to 1995, has denied knowledge of lewd behavior at university facilities. Adam DiSabato is among the former OSU wrestlers who have filed lawsuits against the school alleging it ignored Strauss’ abuse.

Ian Fury, a Jordan spokesman, in a statement called DiSabato’s testimony “another lie.”

“Congressman Jordan never saw or heard of any abuse, and if he had he would have dealt with it,” Fury said.

DiSabato appeared as a witness for hearings on House Bill 249, which would allow Strauss’ victims to sue OSU by waiving the statute of limitations for the case.

Tuesday’s hearing on the bill was the first since September. House Speaker Larry Householder called for the new hearing last week, accusing university attorneys of dragging their feet in mediation talks. A university spokesman has said OSU is committed to “reaching a monetary solution as soon as possible.”

A university investigation released last May concluded Strauss as an OSU athletic department doctor abused at least 177 young men between 1979 and 1998. Strauss was never charged and killed himself in 2005.

A myriad of lawsuits have followed, with upwards of 350 men suing OSU, saying they were abused.

A few lawsuits have implicated Jordan, saying he was aware of reports of Strauss’ abuse and didn’t do anything about it. Jordan has denied this. But questions about Jordan have injected a political component into the scandal. State Rep. Tavia Galonski, an Akron Democrat who sits on the House Civil Justice committee, has unsuccessfully sought to subpoena Jordan to testify during HB249 hearings.

No Republicans asked DiSabato follow-up questions on Tuesday. But several Democratic committee members did, including State Rep. Jeff Crossman, who asked DiSabato on Tuesday to square his testimony with Jordan’s statements.

DiSabato responded by calling Jordan a “liar.”

“He’s throwing us under the bus, all of us. He’s a coward,” DiSabato said.

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