A courtroom scene representing the tense atmosphere surrounding the Jim Jordan deposition in the Ohio State abuse case.
Republican U.S. Representative Jim Jordan was questioned under oath in a federal lawsuit alleging Ohio State University’s failure to protect athletes from Dr. Richard Strauss’s sexual abuse. The lawsuit features accounts from numerous former athletes claiming that Jordan, who was an assistant wrestling coach during the time of the abuse, was aware of the misconduct but did not act. The allegations against Jordan have intensified with the release of a documentary focusing on the Strauss scandal, and survivors are calling for better compensation from the university.
Columbus, Ohio – Republican U.S. Representative Jim Jordan was questioned under oath in July as part of a federal lawsuit involving former Ohio State University student-athletes. The lawsuit alleges that the university failed to protect its athletes from sexual abuse committed by Dr. Richard Strauss over a span of two decades, from 1978 to 1998.
The ongoing lawsuit is rooted in reports from hundreds of athletes who have accused Strauss of sexual abuse, which continued until his death in 2005. Jordan, an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1986 to 1994, has been accused by former wrestlers of being aware of the abuse and not acting on it. During the deposition, Jordan’s office reaffirmed his denial of any knowledge regarding the abuses while he served at the university.
This most recent deposition marks the first time Jordan has provided testimony under oath concerning the allegations against Strauss. Previously, he has participated in the university’s independent investigation into the matter. The scrutiny surrounding Jordan intensified following the release of “Surviving Ohio State,” a documentary directed by George Clooney that discusses the Strauss scandal. This documentary was made available on HBO and Max starting on June 17, and portrays Jordan as potentially aware of the abuses.
Other individuals questioned in this case include plaintiffs Michael Murphy and John Doe 72, along with former Ohio State Athletic Director Andy Geiger. Various testimonies have emerged indicating that Jordan was informed of concerns related to Strauss’s misconduct. For instance, witness Fred Feeney recalled reporting inappropriate behavior to Jordan and another coach, who reportedly dismissed those concerns.
Amidst these allegations, former wrestler Dan Ritchie indicated that Jordan seemed to downplay the seriousness of Strauss’s actions, while also asserting he would have intervened if he were aware of the abuse at the time. The findings of a 2019 university investigation disclosed that Strauss assaulted at least 177 students thousands of times during his tenure.
Despite the gravity of the allegations made against him, Jordan has not been directly sued in any of the lawsuits filed against Ohio State related to the abuse. His office has consistently declined to confirm details about his deposition while reaffirming that he was unaware of any misconduct.
Accusations against Jordan have escalated, particularly after a former wrestler reportedly claimed that Jordan had asked him to retract allegations of abuse in a prior conversation. The fallout from the lawsuit and documentary has drawn criticism from survivors of Strauss’s abuse, many of whom feel dissatisfied with the compensation offered by Ohio State. They are advocating for higher payouts that are more in line with those given in other abuse cases.
One of the abuse survivors, James Snyder-Hill, has expressed skepticism about the integrity of Jordan’s statements during the deposition. The ongoing litigation and the accompanying public scrutiny seem to reflect a wider concern regarding the responsibility of institutions in safeguarding their students and being held accountable for past failures.
The culmination of these testimonies and the associated legal proceedings continues to unfold as the pressure mounts on Ohio State and individuals like Jim Jordan to address the tumultuous legacy left by Dr. Strauss’s actions.
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