President Trump defended Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan “100 percent” on Thursday as yet another former wrestler at Ohio State University came forward to counter Jordan’s claim that he was unaware a team doctor was molesting athletes two decades ago.
Jordan, a conservative Republican and former assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State, is being accused of failing to prevent the team doctor from sexually abusing boys on the wrestling team.
“I don’t believe them at all. I believe him,” Trump told reporters on his way to Montana, referring to the victims of sexual abuse and Jordan.
“Jim Jordan is one of the most outstanding people I’ve met since I’ve been in Washington.”
Trump made the statement as NBC News reported that Ohio State wrestler Shawn Dailey claimed Jordan was aware that Dailey was repeatedly molested by Dr. Richard Strauss in the mid-90s.
“I participated with Jimmy [Jordan] and the other wrestlers in locker-room talk about Strauss. We all did,” Dailey, 43, told NBC News.
“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.”
Initially on Tuesday, NBC reported that former wrestlers said it was common knowledge that Strauss had been molesting students — despite Jordan’s denials.
“For God’s sake, Strauss’s locker was right next to Jordan’s and Jordan even said he’d kill him if he tried anything with him,” one wrestler said.
Their statements came after Jordan told The Columbus Dispatch this spring that he “had not heard about any type of abuse at all.”
He also said that “no one reported any type of abuse” to him.
Trump reiterated his support for Jordan to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday.
“I believe him 100 percent. No question in my mind,” Trump said.
“I believe Jim Jordan 100 percent. He’s an outstanding man.”