Jameis Winston's Student Code of Conduct Hearing for an alleged December 2012 sexual assault for of a fellow student, for which he was not charged criminally, concluded Wednesday. A statement allegedly made by Winston during the hearing was obtained by multiple media outlets.
Winston elected not to answer questions during the hearing, as is his right under the Florida State Code of Conduct, because of concerns over procedural fairness and due process, expressed in the final paragraph of his statement:
At some point they will be held accountable, so I have determined that it is in my best interests to exercise my right pursuant to Rule 6C2R-3.004 (6)(d)of the Florida State University Student Code of Conduct and answer questions when experienced lawyers and other experts can assist me in confronting (NAME REDACTED) false accusation and when (NAME REDACTED) is subject to the penalty of perjury and other claims for (NAME REDACTED) falsely accusing me of rape. -- Paragraph 19, Jameis Winston statement
The statement is the first time Winston has spoken on the record about the night in question.
The full statement includes a proclamation of innocence; specific denials of the Code of Conduct charges against him; a full accounting (in graphic detail) of what he claims was a consensual sexual encounter in December of 2012; a statement of how what he claims is a false accusation has impacted his life; and an explanation for his election to decline to answer questions in the hearing setting without assistance of counsel, and without the penalty of perjury for his accuser.
Any statements or questions answered in a Code of Conduct hearing could be used in potential civil litigation, and Winston makes it clear that if he is to answer any questions, he will do so only in a setting affording him the full due process of law, including the right to avail himself full of counsel, and the right to have testimony and accusations subject to the penalty of perjury.