Jameis Winston student conduct hearing set to begin Tuesday
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's student conduct hearing related to an alleged sexual assault is expected to begin on Tuesday.
The hearing has been delayed twice, but Winston's attorney told Fox Sports that the hearing would move forward on Tuesday.
Winston was not criminally charged for the alleged December 2012 incident, but he potentially committed up to four violations of Florida State's Student Conduct Code, according to The Tallahassee Democrat. Winston was accused of sexually assaulting a female student.
Testimony from the hearing will be confidential, as federal law mandates. The attorney for Winston's accuser lauded the start of the hearing.
“This courageous young woman finally gets the chance to stand up for herself and against Mr. Winston and big-time college sports which has long run over the rights and protection of women on campus,” Clune said in a statement. “Neither Jameis Winston nor his lawyer can stop what is coming.”
In December 2013, Florida State attorney general Willie Meggs declined to charge Winston, saying there was a lack of evidence. But the Tallahassee Police Department's investigation and the university's role in the inquiry have since been called into question.
The U.S. Department of Education is also investigating Florida State for how the university handles Title IX investigations. Winston’s accuser filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which decided the university should be investigated for possible Title IX violations over the way it responds to sexual violence complaints.
Winston, currently a redshirt sophomore, won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and led the Seminoles to a national championship title. Florida State, currently undefeated and vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff, plays Georgia Tech on Saturday in the ACC Championship.
- Stanley Kay
