Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a former wrestling coach at Ohio State University, has insisted an independent investigation into allegations that former male students were molested by an athletic department doctor, fully absolve him of knowing about the abuse at the time.

A 188-page report by the law firm Perkins Coie detailed the abuse of at least 177 male student-athletes by then-campus doctor Richard Strauss from the mid-1970s into the 1990s, according to reports. The report found 22 coaches knew of the abuse and did nothing to intervene.

Jordan was an assistant wrestling coach at the university from 1986 to 1994. He has denied allegations he knew about Strauss' behavior, though former students alleged in July that Jordan turned a “blind eye."

After the law firm’s report was released last week, Jordan’s communications director said the investigation vindicated the congressman, who has represented Ohio’s 4th District since 2007. In 2018, Jordan announced he would run for Speaker of the House after Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin retired but Democrats regained control of the chamber after the midterm elections. He also unsuccessfully campaigned for House Minority Leader, a position won by California Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

“The investigators concluded what we have said from the beginning: Congressman Jordan never knew of any abuse, and if he had he would have dealt with it," Ian Fury said in a statement.

Still, many students said they felt Strauss’ abuse was an "open secret" known by coaches, trainers and other doctors, none of whom did anything about it.

Strauss, who died in 2005, was accused of groping gentitals, in some cases to the point of ejaculation, and showering alongside student athletes.

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