Jameis Winston: False rape accusations are 'the only thing as vicious as rape'

Jameis Winston: False rape accusations are &#039;the only thing as vicious as rape&#039;

(Image credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's disciplinary hearing over allegations he raped a fellow student began this week with the Heisman winner arguing that he was being extorted in a way that was as "vicious" as rape. In Winston's opening statement, obtained by USA Today, the QB recounts his version of the incident, and claims his accuser and her attorneys have tarnished his reputation with a phony story in an attempt to get millions of dollars from him.

"Rape is a vicious crime," he wrote. "The only thing as vicious as rape is falsely accusing someone of rape."

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Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.