Rachel Axon

USA TODAY

An attorney advising Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has requested that the school delay a disciplinary hearing into whether an alleged sexual assault in Dec. 2012 violated the student conduct code, according to an attorney for the former female student who made the allegation.

John Clune, a Title IX attorney for the woman, received a copy of a letter from David Cornwell, Winston's adviser, to FSU on Thursday.

FSU had previously notified Cornwell and Clune that a hearing would be held the week of Nov. 17.

"We've all had access to the same information with minimal exception for months and months and months, so I don't know what the additional information is that takes more than a few days to prepare," Clune said. "Mr. Cornwell's job is to try to make sure this hearing never takes place, or at least not until after his client leaves school."

Cornwell responded with a statement:

"Mr. Winston wants to attend the hearing and confront these false allegations, but he expects and is entitled to do so on an even playing field. We will end this baseless escapade by using the testimony of witnesses and other evidence contained in the approximately 1,000 documents and eight discs that were provided to Mr. Winston only one week ago. The University also has promised to provide additional evidence, including cellphone records. Opposing counsel say they want the hearing. They just don't want Mr. Winston to have the time to prepare for it."

The request for a delay is not unexpected. In an appearance on ESPN's Outside the Lines last month, Cornwell expressed concerns about the amount of advanced notification Winston would get before the hearing.

FSU policy requires the school to notify students at least five class days before a hearing is held. Winston was notified on Tuesday, at least 10 class days in advance of a hearing if it were to begin on Nov. 17.

Cornwell could still file an injunction and ask a court to delay the hearing. In that same ESPN interview in October, Cornwell said he had not considered that option because the school had cooperated thus far.

If the school does not grant Cornwell's request for a delay, the student conduct code allows FSU to proceed with the hearing even without Winston present. He is not obligated to answer questions if he does attend.

The request for a delay comes 23 months after the woman first reported to FSU police on Dec. 7, 2012. She identified Winston as her alleged attacker to Tallahassee police in January 2013, and the detective moved the case to open/inactive a month later.

It sat dormant for nine months until it was made active following media requests for information about the investigation. The state attorney's office was notified in November 2013, and after an investigation declined to file charges in December.

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