Columbus, OH –  Mark Coleman, former student athlete and former Assistant Wrestling Coach at The Ohio State University clarified comments attributed to him that were not accurate or were misconstrued by media outlets.

 

“At no time did I ever say or have any direct knowledge that Jim Jordan knew of Dr. Richard Strauss’s inappropriate behavior,” said Coleman.  “I have nothing but respect for Jim Jordan as I have known him for more than 30 years and know him to be of impeccable character.”

 

The Ohio State University is investigating claims by student athletes of abuse by Strauss, the sports doctor for numerous teams for nearly two decades.  Rep. Jordan (R-0H) was a former assistant wrestling coach from 1986-1994.

 

Mr. Coleman is also distancing himself from the primary accuser in the case, Mike DiSabato, who has brought several lawsuits against OSU in recent years.

 

“Mike DiSabato and his PR representative have released information and made statements publicly without my authorization and, in my opinion, are using them to exploit and embarrass The Ohio State University,” said Coleman.

 

“I am distancing myself from Mike DiSabato as he is not my manager and does not speak for me.  I am also disappointed with many of the public statements made by Mr. DiSabato and his personal attacks on individuals employed by the university and others.

 

“I was a victim of Dr. Strauss and like many others, I wish to cooperate with the investigation to see that whatever justice is available is achieved,” said Coleman.

Columbus, OH – Following is a joint statement by former Ohio State University wrestling coaches who worked with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), while he served as assistant coach (1987-1995):

“What has been said about Jim Jordan is absolutely wrong. We all worked on the wrestling coaching staff during Jim’s tenure at The Ohio State University. None of us saw or heard of abuse of OSU wrestlers. The well-being of student-athletes was all of our concern. If we had heard of any abuse, we would have spoken up.”

Russ Hellickson, former head coach
Dave Ruckman, former assistant coach
Rex Holman, former assistant coach
Ken Chertow, former assistant coach
Myron Kharchilava, former assistant coach
Kenny Ramsey Jr., former assistant coach

Following are individual statements by the coaches of Rep. Jordan’s work and character:
“Jim Jordan is a man of high integrity and courage. I wrestled for and coached with Jim. I fully believe that Jim did not know of any allegations of sexual abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss at the Ohio State University. Jim is a leader that was very protective of his athletes. He would ask how you were doing in an effort to understand your mental state. It wasn’t a formality, but a genuine request to communicate. He wanted to make sure you were ok and help problem solve.” – Rex Holman, former OSU assistant coach

“I served as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach for two years from 1986 to 1988 with Russ Hellickson, the head coach, and Jim Jordan, the assistant coach. During my tenure with the program, I was never approached by any wrestler of the Ohio State Team indicating that they had been sexually abused. In addition, during my time with the team, Russ Helickson and Jim Jordan never mentioned to me that they had been approached by a team member alleging sexual abuse. In fact, I found that both coaches were available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, for their wrestlers regarding any wrestling, academic, or personal matter that may have occurred. To this day I believe I am a better man having worked with both Russ and Jim as well as my fellow volunteer assistants.” – John Dougherty, Volunteer Assistant Wrestling Coach 1986-1988

“I recruited Jim Jordan out of Ohio to come to the University of Wisconsin in 1983 and it is hard for me to think of another person who embodies the character qualities of honesty, fairness, good judgment and wisdom like Jim Jordan. Jim also never took shortcuts or ducked challenges, that’s not how he became a champion, so the idea that Jim would know of abuse of his wrestlers and do nothing is utterly absurd. I first saw Jim Jordan’s tenacity in wrestling, America has seen how tenacious Jim Jordan is in Congress, and that same tenacity is exactly what Jim would have brought to abuse of wrestlers in his charge if he had known about it.” – Lee Kemp, former University of Wisconsin assistant coach, 3x National Champion, 3x World Champion

“From the first day I met Jim Jordan as a student-athlete, he has been the most honorable man I have ever known and my respect and admiration for all he has done and accomplished is at the very highest level. We dealt with many challenges together when he was one of my assistant coaches, and it’s important to know that neither Jim nor I would sidestep or avoid challenges for our wrestlers just because the circumstances were painful or uncomfortable – in fact, those are the kind of circumstances that motivated Jim the most. At no time while Jim Jordan was a coach with me at Ohio State did either of us ignore abuse of our wrestlers. That is not the kind of man Jim is, and it is not the kind of coach that I was.” – Russ Hellickson, University of Wisconsin head Wrestling coach, The Ohio State head Wresting coach retired

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Columbus, OH – Fifteen Ohio State University wrestlers have come forward to defend Rep. Jim Jordan and repudiate the false claims about what he knew of potential abuse by a team doctor.

The list of wrestlers and their statements follow:

Lenny Schork, (1994)

Rob Archer, (1993-1998)

Cullen Waugh, (1994-1999)

Ferdinand J. Miller (1987-1992)

Jim Picolo (1982-1987)

Andy Stickley (1983-1987)

Rick Burlenski (1989-1994)

Matt Mondalek (1995-1999)

Stephen Mendicino (1983-1986)

George Pardos (1988-1993)

Michael Alf (1988-1992)

Dan George (1984-1988)

Jude Skove (1983-1986)

Andrew Skove (1984-1988)

“While I was a member of the OSU wrestling team, I gained nothing but respect for Coach Jordan and learned a great deal from him about character and the principles of hard work.  Not only was he a great wrestler, but I thought him to be great person operating from a high place of integrity as well.  I was treated with respect, felt it was a safe environment and I have nothing but fond memories of my interactions with Coach Jordan, other coaches and the team.  If there was wrong doing, I hope justice will be served and that anyone affected by any inappropriate behavior is able to find peace in their lives.” – Lenny Schork, Wrestler (1994)

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“I am writing in support of Jim Jordan.  I wrestled at The Ohio State University for Coach Jordan in the years 1993 to 1998.  The allegations that Jim Jordan acted inappropriately are 100% false.  Jim Jordan is an ethical, outstanding man.” – Rob Archer, Head Wrestling Coach/Associate Principal, Huntington High School WV (1993–1998)

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“I am writing this email in support of Jim Jordan.  I wrestled at Ohio State from 1994-1999 when Jim was an assistant coach.  I feel that Jim is a very honest and ethical person and always acted in the best interest of our teammates. I feel that trying to make this political in any way devalues even more the people who were personally affected by this.” – Cullen Waugh, Wrestler (1994-1999)

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“Thoughts with your family during these times. As a member of OSU wrestling team (1987-92) I stand behind you! We know how the accusers have pissed away millions of dollars and are looking for a quick infusion of money!” – Ferdinand J. Miller, Wrestler (1987–1992)

— Continue reading “Former OSU Wrestlers Refute False Claims Against Rep. Jim Jordan” →

WASHINGTON D.C. —Prominent leaders within the conservative movement have widely vocalized their continued support of Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) against the vicious and false accusations. Their statements all vehemently affirm his character and integrity.

A list of conservative supporters and their statements are below:

Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State, Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council

David Bozell, President of ForAmerica

Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of Susan B. Anthony List

Jim DeMint (R-SC), former U.S. Senator of South Carolina and Chairman of the

conservative Partnership Institute

Becky Norton Dunlop, Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow at the Heritage Foundation

Colin A. Hanna, President of Let Freedom Ring

Jenny Beth Martin, Chairman of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund

Cleta Mitchell, former member of Oklahoma House of Representatives, Foley and Lardner LLP

Penny Nance, President of Concerned Women for America

Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council

Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. Founder and Editor in Chief of The American Spectator

Richard Viguiere, Chairman of ConservativeHQ and Founder of American Target Advertising

 

“Jim Jordan is one of the most exemplary human beings I have ever known. As a fellow Ohioan, he has been a family friend for more than twenty-two years. His continued strength and integrity in the face of such adversity is a testament to the impeccable man that he is and always has been.  Jim has work to do on Capitol Hill on behalf of the Buckeye state and the smear campaign against this man is outrageous.” -Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State, Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council

..

“The recent attack against Rep. Jim Jordan reeks of dirty tricks, and is a clear indication that his political enemies, including those in the media, fear Jordan’s leadership star is rising.  They fear Jordan because he

is one of the only elected officials in Washington who means what he says and says what he means.  As

 

for the Speaker’s race, voters across the political spectrum are looking for new blood to replace the

current GOP leadership in Washington, and Jim Jordan is the best man for the job.”- David Bozell, President of ForAmerica

 

“In all of my work in public policy and elections, I’ve never met a man with greater integrity than Jim Jordan.” -Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List

 

“Jim Jordan isn’t being accused; he’s being railroaded. People like Jim spend a lifetime developing a reputation of honesty and integrity, yet irresponsible media try to destroy that reputation with one misleading story. The accusations do not describe the man of character and courage I’ve known for more than a decade.  – Jim DeMint (R-SC), former U.S. Senator of South Carolina and Chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute

 

“My friend, Congressman Jim Jordan is under attack by the deep state and it is really a sad state. Jordan is promoted for a leadership role by colleagues and so his enemies do what they have done in this town since the Clintons…the politics of personal destruction. Jordan is a fine man who fights against wrong when he knows about it!” – Becky Norton Dunlop, Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow

 

“Jim Jordan is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, honest, and upstanding legislators with whom it has ever been my pleasure to work.”-Colin A. Hanna, President of Let Freedom Ring

 

“Jordan stands out in Washington for his strong moral convictions and his backbone of steel. He’s unafraid to take on a challenge when it’s the right thing to do. I simply do not believe he would have failed to take action if he had been informed of sexual abuse against his student athletes.” -Jenny Beth Martin, Chairman of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund

 

“To suggest that Rep Jim Jordan would turn a blind eye to any injustice, wrongdoing, immoral or illegal act is absolutely laughable.  Anyone who has known and worked with Jim Jordan, as I have, for nearly a decade knows that Rep Jordan never shies from a fight and that he leads the charge whenever there is a hint of something wrong – even to his own political detriment where others prefer to remain silent.

 

The question I ask is why are these spurious allegations from disreputable sources being fomented against him now?  Who is really behind this?  It appears to me to be a concerted effort to smear one of the most honorable gentlemen ever to have served in the US House of Representatives.  That is what NBC and other news outlets should be investigating…who is behind this?  Can it be sources close to those in the Mueller investigation and the Department of Justice who are uncomfortable with Rep Jordan’s relentless pursuit of the truth behind what they have been doing for the past two years?   That is much more likely than that these bizarre accusations are based in any facts whatsoever. We know Jim Jordan.   We are only now learning about his accusers and there is something smelly about this entire episode.”– Cleta Mitchell, former member of Oklahoma House of Representatives, Foley and Lardner LLP

 

“I have known Jim Jordan for about a decade and more importantly his staff. In all that time I never heard even a whisper against his character. Wish I could say that about everyone.” -Penny Nance, President of Concerned Women for America

 

“Character assassination is a tool of the trade in today’s political climate. I’ve known Jim Jordan since he arrived in Congress to reform it. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more principled man.” – Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council

 

“I remember my first conversation with Jordan over dinner a few years back. Yes, he wanted to talk politics, but first he wanted to compare Ohio State’s training program with Indiana’s swimming program and he was particularly interested in our coach, the innovative Doc Councilman, swimming’s greatest coach. As the unnamed witness said, even after 30 years Jordan was “all business.” To a two-time NCAA champion, training came even before politics.

 

How is it that we have arrived at this bizarre point in our history? We are harassing a world-class athlete about vaporous charges going back 30 years when he was an assistant coach. Times have changed, and apparently they are changing again.” – R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. Founder and Editor in Chief of The American Spectator

 

“The two former wrestlers accusing Rep. Jordan of ignoring the sexual misconduct by a university physician more than two decades ago have a history of failed business dealings, lawsuits, harassment allegations, and in the case of one accuser, an 18-month prison sentence for fraud. The timing of these allegations, their specious nature and the focus on what Jim Jordan “should have known” smells to high heaven of a political hit by Jordan’s RINO enemies.

 

This is the lowest and vilest attack yet on a conservative seeking a House leadership post and it tells us the Swamp thinks Jordan is winning the race for Speaker.” –Richard Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ and Founder of American Target Advertising

 

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