Trump says he doesn't believe former wrestlers who say Rep. Jim Jordan knew of abuse allegations

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last updated 6 July 2018

President Trump said Thursday he thinks four former Ohio State University wrestlers who say Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) knew about alleged sexual abuse by the team's former doctor are lying.

"I don't believe them at all," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I believe him. Jim Jordan is one of the most outstanding people I've met since I've been in Washington. I believe him 100 percent. No question in my mind. I believe Jim Jordan 100 percent. He's an outstanding man."

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A fourth former wrestler, Shawn Dailey, came forward on Thursday and told NBC News that Jordan and his fellow wrestlers discussed Strauss' behavior. "It was very common knowledge in the locker room that if you went to Dr. Strauss for anything, you would have to pull your pants down," Dailey said, adding he considers Jordan "a good guy, but to say that he had no knowledge of it, I would say that's kind of hurtful." Strauss, who died in 2005, has been accused of inappropriate conduct by former Ohio State athletes from several different sports.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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