Ex-Ohio State Wrestler Adam DiSabato Warns Sexual Abuse Scandal Only ‘Going To Get Worse’ For Rep. Jim Jordan

Former wrestler Adam DiSabato of Ohio State University’s wrestling team warns the scandal is  “going to get worse” for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who’s denied knowing of sexual abuse by a university doctor. 

Many former athletes accused the late university doctor Richard Strauss of sexual abuse. Many of them reported that the incidents of sexual abuse happened while Jordan was the assistant coach from 1987 to 1995. Three athletes and a referee said they discussed the incidents with Jordan directly and that he knew the abuse was happening, but did nothing to stop it. He has denied knowing of the incidents. 

DiSabato told MSNBC’s Joy Reid that the abuse was “blatant knowledge throughout our wrestling team.” He also said that Jordan called him repeatedly to petition for him to contradict his brother’s statement, Mike DiSabato, in 2018 in which he too insisted he told Jordan of the abuse and that Jordan had full knowledge of what was happening. DiSabato said Jordan, “called me crying, groveling … begging me to go against my brother,” adding: “He’s a coward.”

Mike DiSabato said of the incident, “I considered Jim Jordan a friend. But at the end of the day, he is absolutely lying if he says he doesn’t know what was going on.”

For him to deny he knew anything of what was happening to the wrestlers, Adam DiSabato said Jordan was “just digging himself a bigger hole” for himself. 

Dozens of athletes have since filed lawsuits against the university for ignoring the allegations of sexual abuse. One of the suits accused Strauss of, “drugging and raping athletes.”  In its annual crime report, the university stated last year that Strauss was responsible for at least 1,429 sexual assaults and 47 rapes during his 20-year career at the University of Ohio. He was never charged and died by suicide in 2005.

When asked for a comment, Ian Fury, Jordan’s communications director told Cleveland.com, “Another lie. Congressman Jordan never saw or heard of any abuse, and if he had he would have dealt with it.”

Article by Anacaona Rodriguez Martinez