Former Ohio State wrestling coach reportedly encouraged Rep. Jim Jordan's accusers to recant

Rep. Jim Jordan.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

After several former Ohio State wrestlers came forward saying their former assistant coach, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), failed to do anything about alleged sexual abuse by the team doctor, they were contacted by retired Ohio State wrestling coach Russ Hellickson, who urged them to recant, the men told NBC News.

Hellickson texted Dunyasha Yetts and Mike DiSabato, who showed the messages to NBC News. On July 3, NBC News published a report stating that several wrestlers were inappropriately touched by the team doctor, Richard Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005. Yetts said he'd told Jordan that he went to Strauss with a thumb injury, and Strauss tried to pull down his pants. Several wrestlers said Strauss' behavior was discussed often in the locker room and Jordan turned a blind eye to the alleged sexual abuse; Jordan, who served as assistant coach from 1986 to 1994, has denied ever hearing formal abuse accusations.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

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.