FSU Responds To NYT Report On Flawed Jameis Winston Investigation
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) -- Did Tallahassee Police give Florida State University Quarterback Jameis Winston special treatment because of his star status?
The attorney for the woman accusing him of rape thinks they did.
"Do I believe that the complete failure of the investigation of a rape case was related to the fact that his gentleman was on the football team? I do," said attorney Pat Carroll.
A recent New York Times article supports her claim.
The Times found that Tallahassee police did not follow obvious leads in the case. They did not attempt to interview Winston in person, and never obtained his DNA. Police didn't request surveillance from the bar where Winston met the alleged victim. They also didn't get their hands on cell phone video of the alleged rape taken by a fellow football player.
The Times story also found that the detective investigating the case had done work for the FSU Booster Club, and that he waited two months to file his first report.
FSU issued a statement responding to the Times report. It said, in part, ""...no university official outside the Victim Advocate Program received a report from any complainant naming him prior to when the allegations were made public in November 2013. Had there been a complaint, the university would have acted accordingly without regard to athletics or any other extra-curricular activity."
The Leon County State Attorney announced last December that no charges would be filed against Winston, saying there simply wasn't enough evidence to win a conviction.
"Our review of this investigation leaves us no other choice than to call upon the attorney general of the state of Florida to conduct an independent investigation," Carroll said.
So far, Governor Rick Scott has sidestepped the issue.
"You'd have to talk with Attorney General Bondi," Scott said when asked if the state should re-open the Winston case.
