Jordan interviewed in OSU investigation into alleged doctor’s sex abuse

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has been interviewed by a law firm in an investigation into allegations that a team doctor sexually abused Ohio State University (OSU) wrestlers decades ago.

Jordan, a former assistant wrestling coach at OSU, was interviewed Monday by investigators, his office said on Wednesday.

Jordan, a leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has vehemently denied allegations that he turned a blind eye to the alleged abuse of OSU wrestlers when he was a coach.{mosads}

“Congressman Jordan has told the investigators the same thing he’s told you guys in the media since day one. He has never had any abuse reported to him,” Ian Fury, Jordan’s spokesman, told The Hill. “As we’ve said, we’re happy to assist the investigation any way we can.”

OSU launched an independent investigation in April into the allegations that Richard Strauss, who died in 2005, sexually abused athletes in the 1980s and 1990s. The investigation is also probing whether enough was done to protect the students.

A group of former OSU wrestlers on Monday filed a lawsuit against the school for allegedly failing to protect its athletes from sexual abuse. 

Perkins Coie LLP, the law firm that was hired to conduct an independent investigation into the OSU allegations, said it had been trying to contact Jordan to sit for a voluntary interview, but never got a response until it met with Jordan on Monday.

Jordan said the law firm was using a nonexistent email address.