USDOE Now Investigating Rape Allegations Against Winston

Credit: Seminoles.com

News Release: USA Today
Updated: April 3, 2014, 7pm

The U.S. Department of Education is now investigating FSU’s handling of rape allegations against star quarterback Jameis Winston, that according to USA Today.

USA Today reports the DOE’S Office for Civil Rights is trying to determine whether the school violated title nine laws.

The USA Today reports the woman who accused Winston of assaulting her filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights last month.

That report also indicates the federal probe focuses on the lengthy delay in investigating the sexual assault claims and whether the university met with Winston alone to discuss the allegations.

Winston was not charged with a crime.

The U.S. Department of Education has confirmed it is investigating FSU, but would not comment on the nature of the complaint or the parties involved.

CBS Sports News Copy

The woman who accused Florida State’s Jameis Winston of raping her plans to file civil suits against Winston, the Tallahassee Police Department and possibly Florida State.

“I want heads to roll,” the woman’s attorney, Pat Carroll, told ABC News. “Absolutely you’re going to see a civil suit. You can not have law enforcement that is not held accountable.”

Carroll claims that the Tallahassee Police Department was negligent in the way it handled the case, which ultimately led prosecutors to drop the case.

The complaint against Winston were originally filed on Dec. 7, 2012 but an investigation was ended a few months afterward. The case then became active again in November after news of them became public. Florida’s state attorney Willie Meggs conducted another investigation before deciding not to file any charges against Winston in December.

According to Carroll, Winston’s accuser left school last semester and has been warned by Florida State not to return to protect her safety.