Jordan says his accuser ‘out to get’ him, Ohio State

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, accused a former Ohio State University wrestler of having a “vendetta” against his family Friday as he stood by his statements that he knew nothing about alleged sexual abuse in the school’s athletic department three decades ago.

The influential House conservative has been embroiled in controversy over allegations he turned a blind eye to groping, public masturbation and other sexual misconduct while he was assistant coach of the Ohio State wrestling team from 1987 to 1995. The charges come at a delicate time for Jordan as he faces pressure to launch a bid for speaker of the House.

Jordan consistently denied seeing, knowing or hearing about any sexual misconduct as more accounts surfaced this week. The six-term congressman has called the timing of the allegations “suspect,” suggesting it was tied to chatter about his leadership ambitions and a recent tense exchange with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

On Friday evening, Jordan said he would meet with investigators next week and singled out Mike DiSabato, a former wrestler who has given multiple interviews saying Jordan knew about the alleged abuse.

Speaking on Fox News, Jordan questioned DiSabato’s truthfulness and personal conduct and accused him of having a “vendetta” against Ohio State and Jordan’s family.

“What bothers me the most is the guys that are saying this thing, I know they know the truth,” Jordan said in the interview. “I know they do ... . I know they know what they’re saying is not accurate.”

“He’s out to get Ohio State,” Jordan said of DiSabato. “He has a vendetta against our family.” DiSabato, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment.

DiSabato has called Jordan a “liar” for denying he was aware of the abuse. His comments, along with those of two other former wrestlers, were first reported Tuesday by NBC News.

“He knew,” DiSabato told The Post this week. “That’s not a question. Why he had a spokesman put out misinformation is frankly beyond comprehension, because is he the target of this? No. It was common knowledge and he knew.”