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Former Ohio wrestlers who claim to be victims of badual abuse by Richard Strauss, MD, of the Ohio State State, claim that MP Jim Jordan was aware of the abuse of the Ohio State Wrestling Team. at NBC
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Dem. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is photographed on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on June 26, 2018. Jordan denies allegations that he was badually harbaded by the team doctor when he was a wrestling coach at the Ohio State from 1987 to 1995. [1965-19005] (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

WASHINGTON – President Trump on Tuesday offered a strong defense to Rep. Jim Jordan, the powerful Conservative of the House who faces allegations of badual abuse in Ohio.

Trump stated that he believed 100% that he knew nothing of the alleged abuse of Dr. Richard Strauss, who treated student-athletes from the university.

"Jim Jordan is one of the most remarkable people I've met since I was in Washington," Trump told reporters Tuesday. "I believe it 100%, no question in my mind."

Trump's comments came as Jordan, former OSU wrestling coach, faced two new accusers

Shawn Dailey, a former OSU wrestler, told NBC News that Jordan was part of conversations in which other wrestlers were talking about Strauss' badual misconduct.

"I've been involved with Jimmy and the other wrestlers in the locker room about Strauss – we've all done it," Dailey told NBC News: "It was well known in the locker room that if you went to Dr. Strauss's for something, you had to put down your pants. "

Another former wrestler, speaking under the guise of anonymity, he told USA TODAY that he did not want to do anything. had never spoken directly to Jordan about Strauss's badault, but he was widely known in the locker room, where Jordan was constantly present.

"I think he should know," said this former wrestler. "It was in the locker room environment every day, it was not just a year ago, it was decades, it was before Jordan was there and after.

Strauss, who served as the team's physician from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, died in 2005. Jordan, an Ohio Republican elected for the first time in the House in 2006 , worked as badistant 1995.

Jordan categorically denied knowing anything about the behavior reported by Strauss.

"This is just not right," Jordan told reporters in the news. Ohio Wednesday "Never heard of abuse, and if we had, we would have reported."

NBC reported for the first time on Tuesday that three other ex-OSU wrestlers had declared that Jordan knew about Strauss's inappropriate touching.

Jordan and his allies raised questions about Mike DiSabato's dad, one of the first ex-wrestlers to show up. DiSabato told USA TODAY on Tuesday that Strauss was a "serial groper" and that "everyone knew it, including Jim".

DiSabato and two other former wrestlers told NBC News that it was common knowledge that Strauss was showering with the students and improperly touching them during appointments.

Ian Fury, spokesman for Jordan, said DiSabato sent Jordan a series of e-mails earlier this year that were troubling. Fury said that they have forwarded these messages to the US Capitol police.

In April, the state of Ohio announced that it was opening an investigation into allegations of badual misconduct against Strauss. External lawyers at the university hired another law firm, Perkins Coie, to conduct an investigation.

"To date, Perkins Coie has interviewed over 150 former students and witnesses" about the allegations against Strauss, OSU spokesman Benjamin Johnson said Tuesday. He said the firm had received reports of badual misconduct by Strauss against former student-athletes in 14 sports and former patients of the university student health office.

Investigators said Tuesday that they had tried to contact Jordan but had received no response. reply. But the investigating lawyer used an incorrect email for the congressman, so Jordan never got the message, Fury said.

Jordan said that he was going to cooperate with the investigation.

"He has not been contacted by investigators about this but will help them in any way that they ask, because if what is alleged is true, the victims deserve investigation and justice complete, "said Fury, his spokesperson. Jordan is one of the most influential Conservatives in the House and co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, a faction composed of some thirty ultra-conservative Republicans who often judge the GOP leadership on legislation that They feel too moderate.

He does not know what impact these allegations might have on his leadership ambitions, but Jordan hinted that the timing was suspect

"The timing of questions," said Jordan Wednesday, "All I know is not true."

Contribution: Craig Shoup and Jessie Balmert

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