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Sports

NFL is Investigating Jameis Winston for Allegedly Groping an Uber Driver

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was accused of grabbing a woman's crotch.
Photo by Aaron Doster—USA TODAY Sports

The NFL is investigating a claim that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston sexually assaulted a woman by grabbing and holding on to her crotch, according to Buzzfeed News. The incident allegedly occurred on March 13, 2016, when the woman, an Uber driver at the time, picked up Winston from downtown Scottsdale Arizona at 2 a.m.

The report details the account of Kate, whose full name was not used for fear of retaliation, in which she describes feeling "frozen" as he groped her. Per Buzzfeed:

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Waiting in line at the drive-thru of Los Betos Mexican Food, “he reached over and he just grabbed my crotch,” Kate said, alleging that Winston held his hand there for three to five seconds and removed it only after she looked up in shock and said, “What’s up with that?”

She later added about why she chose now to speak up:

“I have been empowered by my sisters who have forged this path by speaking up, and I must do my part to make it a little more well traveled,” Kate said to BuzzFeed News. “If I’m silent, I fear that further harm will come to other women, if it hasn’t already.”

Buzzfeed obtained a letter from NFL's special counsel for investigations, Lisa Friel, that stated they have opened an official investigation on the matter.

Winston's representative Russ Spielman denied the account, saying that the driver couldn't identify who assaulted her, and that, "The only reason his name is being dragged in to this is that his uber account was used to call the ride." The woman did identify Winston in texts to her friend the day of the incident, however.

In December of 2016, Winston settled a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who accused him of rape in 2012 while both were students at Florida State. The university also settled a Title IX lawsuit filed by the victim for $950,000. Winston denied the allegations while racking up awards including the Heisman Trophy, winning a national championship, and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.