Ex-wrestlers say that the powerful GOP Rep. Jim Jordan was aware of the alleged abuse of the Ohio State

An Ohio congressman does not tell the truth by asserting that he was unaware of allegations that a dead team doctor was now abusing athletes, according to two former university wrestlers.

U.S. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a former college wrestler at the University of Wisconsin and later a coach at the Ohio State, knew when he was in college that the doctor was fumbling with male wrestlers said former wrestlers Mike DiSabato and Dunyasha Yetts.

The wrestlers' allegations were reported Tuesday by NBC. Jordan, a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, denies them.

"MP Jordan has never seen any abuse, has never heard of abuse and has never been abused during his time as a trainer at Ohio State. "A spokesman for Jordan told CBS News.

Jordan, one of the founders of the Liberal Conservative caucus, is one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress and a potential presidential candidate. He played a leading role in the fight against the Affordable Care Act and rebuffed the government's investigation of Russia, ultimately questioning Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein

. who was on faculty and medical staff and published a variety of research. Strauss died in 2005, and he was tried a suicide.

Ohio State did not publish details of the claims, but stated that more than 150 alumni and witnesses have been interviewed so far. The school asked anyone with information about Strauss to contact independent investigators of the Perkins Coie law firm based in Seattle

Perkins Coie also studies whether Strauss examined high school students

Yetts, 47 years, from Steubenville, said Strauss. He groped at least three times during routine exams when he struggled from the early to mid-1990s. At the time, Jordan was the Yetts' heavyweight coach, and the two often talked about Strauss, he said. Jordan was one of the people the Yetts told about the first trial-and-error attempt in 1992, Yetts told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

"He would even comment," This guy would not touch me. "] Beginning in 2007, Mr. Yetts served 18 months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of mail fraud. accused of having defrauded investors of $ 1.8 million as part of an investment program he led from 1998 to 2001.

Yetts, director of operations From a gas drilling company, said Tuesday he had paid off his debt.He said the fraud case has nothing to do with what he has lived as & # 39;

DiSabato, from Dublin in the suburbs of Columbus, also told AP that Jordan had direct knowledge of Strauss's allegations. "DiSabato, 50, said that he was a student-athlete. he had been driven to recount the actions of the Ohio State of Strauss after hearing last year's testimonials from sexually abused gymnasts by sports physician Larry Nassar. DiSabato says that he is angry that Jordan has not acknowledged the abuse.

Jordan's spokesman said that he would help the investigators in every way possible.

"He has not been contacted by the investigators about this but will help them in any way possible, because if what is alleged is true, the victims deserve a full investigation and justice," said the spokesman Ian Fury. Tuesday night, a law firm representing the Ohio State contradicted this statement. A team of investigators investigating the allegations against Strauss had previously contacted Jordan's office by phone and email asking him to participate in an interview, but Jordan did not respond, said said Kathleen Trafford of Porter Wright in Columbus. Efforts to arrange an interview with Rep Jordan, as well as other people with potential knowledge regarding the allegations, "said Trafford.

Fury said that the office can not find a record of these claims , but remains ready to assist investigators.

The House of Representatives 'office has described Jordan's allegations as "serious."

GOP Chairman Paul R. Gans' spokesman stated that the university had "opened a thorough investigation". "will await the findings of this investigation."

Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty to assaulting women and girls on the pretext of treatment and was arrested with a child pornogra phy He is serving three prison terms that will probably keep him locked up for life.