Jim Jordan: Key Trump ally was 'crying and begging' student wrestler to deny abuse cover-up, hearing told

At least 177 athletes assaulted at Ohio State University by team doctor who took his own life

Republican politician and Donald Trump ally Jim Jordan, pleaded with a student athlete to deny that he knew about an infamous sexual abuse scandal that rocked one of the nation’s leading universities, a public hearing has been told.

Adam DiSabato, a champion wrestler at Ohio State University, told state legislators that Mr Jordan asked him to stop his brother making claims he had turned a blind eye to the abuse of athletes by team doctor, Richard Strauss.

“Jim Jordan called me crying, crying, grovelling, on the Fourth of July…begging me to go against my brother, begging me, crying for half an hour,” Mr told Tuesday’s hearing.

According to The Hill, he added: “That’s the kind of cover-ups that’s going on here.”

He said he called to ask him to hush his brother, whistleblower Mike DiSabato, in the summer of 2018 after reports were published in the media, revealing abuse dating back several decades.

A report conducted by an outride law firm in 2019, estimated at least 177 student athletes were abused by Strauss, who took his own life in 2005.

Mr DiSabato spoke at a hearing being held to consider legislation that would allow victims of the former athletics doctor to overcome the statute of limitations and sue the university for damages.

University is being sued by survivors of the abuse (AP)

This is the not the first time allegations have been made that Mr Jordan, an assistant wrestling coach from 1986 to 1994, knew about the sexual harassment and abuse.

In 2018, he told the media. “I never knew about any type of abuse. If I did, I would have done something about it.”

Mr Jordan, 55, who was first elected to Congress in 2007, has become a strong supporter of Mr Trump and was one of his most vocal defenders during recent impeachment hearings held by the House of Representatives.

In a statement. Ian Fury, a spokesperson for Mr Jordan called Mr DiSabato’s testimony “another lie”.

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