Jim Jordan to Face Deposition in Explosive Sexual Abuse Scandal Linked to Ohio State Wrestling Program

Representative Jim Jordan, a powerful Republican lawmaker and former assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, is once again facing scrutiny as reports emerge that he will soon be deposed in connection with a long-standing sexual abuse scandal.

According to four plaintiffs involved in ongoing lawsuits against OSU, Jordan is expected to answer questions under oath regarding what he knew—and allegedly ignored—about a team doctor accused of sexually abusing hundreds of student-athletes during his tenure.

The lawsuits center around Dr. Richard Strauss, a now-deceased physician who served as the team doctor for OSU’s athletic department for nearly two decades.

An independent investigation conducted in 2019 by the law firm Perkins Coie found that Strauss had abused at least 177 male students during his time at the university. The report also concluded that university officials were aware of complaints as early as 1979 but failed to take meaningful action.

Jordan, who worked as an assistant wrestling coach at OSU between 1987 and 1995, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the abuse at the time. However, multiple former wrestlers have publicly claimed that Jordan was aware of Strauss’s behavior and chose not to intervene. Some even allege that Jordan and other staff members would dismiss complaints or laugh them off as locker room talk.

Now, with depositions scheduled in connection with new legal proceedings, Jordan may have to clarify his role and potential inaction under oath for the first time. Legal experts believe this moment could be pivotal—not only for the plaintiffs seeking justice but also for Jordan’s political career and legacy.

The decision to depose a sitting member of Congress, especially one as high-profile as Jordan, is not made lightly. It signifies the increasing legal and public pressure to resolve the unanswered questions surrounding what happened at Ohio State.

Though Jordan has not been formally accused of abuse, the allegations of his silence have haunted him for years, particularly as he’s risen in national prominence as one of the GOP’s most aggressive defenders of former President Donald Trump.

The timing of this development is also politically sensitive. Jordan is currently serving as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, placing him at the forefront of some of the country’s most heated debates on law enforcement, federal oversight, and criminal justice.

Critics have pointed out the irony of a man in such a powerful position regarding oversight and accountability being implicated—albeit indirectly—in a major institutional failure to protect vulnerable young men.

Reactions to the news have been swift. Survivors of the OSU scandal have expressed a mix of relief and frustration. “It’s about time someone starts answering serious questions,” said one plaintiff, who requested anonymity. “We’ve lived with the trauma for decades. We just want truth, not politics.”

Jordan’s defenders argue that the lawsuits are politically motivated and rely on hearsay rather than hard evidence. They maintain that Jordan was never in a position to stop Strauss’s abuse and is being unfairly targeted because of his political profile.

Still, the sheer number of allegations and the consistency among the accounts of former wrestlers cast a long shadow over those arguments.

Public pressure has also mounted for Ohio State to take full accountability. While the university has apologized and issued settlements to some survivors, others are still fighting for recognition and restitution.

The renewed attention on Jordan’s involvement may push OSU to offer broader transparency or re-examine its past internal investigations.

In Washington, the political stakes are equally high. If Jordan’s deposition reveals contradictions or suggests he was more involved than previously claimed, his leadership role could be jeopardized.

Even the perception of a cover-up or failure to protect young athletes could prove damaging in an election cycle already shaped by concerns about trust, integrity, and institutional failure.

While no deposition date has been publicly confirmed, legal insiders expect it to take place within the next several months. Plaintiffs’ attorneys are reportedly preparing to present new evidence and statements that could directly challenge Jordan’s past denials.

If those materials hold weight, the Congressman may find himself navigating not just political storms—but legal ones, too.

Ultimately, the case underscores a painful truth: that silence, especially from those in power, can leave deep and lasting scars.

Whether or not Jordan is ultimately found to have failed in his duty to protect the athletes under his watch, the renewed focus on his time at OSU is a stark reminder that past actions—or inactions—never stay buried forever.

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