14 wrestlers defend Jordan in release

Fourteen former Ohio State University wrestlers have gone on the record to refute claims that Rep. Jim Jordan ignored allegations of sexual abuse while serving as an assistant coach more than two decades ago, according to a group set up to provide a public defense for the Ohio Republican.

The wrestlers are listed in a press release sent out by the group “Stand with Jim Jordan.”

The press release lists statements from 14 members of the team and a 15^th person who spoke anonymously.

{mosads}Some of the statements have been given to the media, and the group aggregates the results, listing their quotations.

The names and quotations defending Jordan were compiled by Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, a conservative firm which Jordan has hired to help him weather the crisis.

Defenses from wresters Lenny Schork, Rob Archer, Cullen Waugh, Ferdinand Miller, Jim Picolo, Andy Stickley, Rick Burlenski, Matt Mondalek, Stephen Mendicino, George Pardos, Michael Alf, Dan George, Jude Skove and Andrew Skove are listed.

Jordan has come under criticism from a number of other members of the team who say he knew about allegations against the former team doctor, Richard Strauss.

Strauss, who killed himself in 2005, has been accused of touching athletes inappropriately as well as other sexual misconduct.

Different media organizations have listed different numbers of team members who have made the allegations about Jordan. The Washington Post has reported that seven different members of the team have said Jordan knew of the misconduct, while CNN in a report on Tuesday said it had talked to five different team members who made allegations against Jordan.

Some of those people have spoken on the record, while others have spoken anonymously.

Jordan is a leading member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has been seen as a potential candidate for Speaker.