Florida university investigates law professor over allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.
A professor at Florida International University (FIU), H. Scott Fingerhut, has been placed on administrative leave amid ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct. The leave has been in effect since January 2025, following a letter delivered to Fingerhut from FIU’s Interim Director and Title IX Coordinator, Jacqueline Moise Gibbs, which cited “credible concerns of ongoing inappropriate sexual misconduct.”
The letter outlined serious allegations including inappropriate behavior, such as showing animal genitalia to students and making sexually charged statements that were described as intimidating or retaliatory. Initial reviews conducted by FIU’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Accessibility indicated that complainants expressed feelings of emotional distress, anxiety, and fear of retaliation. As a result of these findings, the university deemed Fingerhut a potential immediate threat to the health and welfare of the university community, leading to the decision to enforce his administrative leave as per the regulations outlined in FIU 105, which addresses sexual harassment and misconduct.
As part of the leave, Fingerhut is prohibited from accessing all FIU campuses, buildings, and university-sponsored events. Consequently, other faculty members have taken over his classes for the current semester, and his name was omitted from the preliminary list of classes for the fall semester. FIU has not provided additional details regarding the specific accusations, adhering to standard university policy that restricts comments on personnel matters.
In an email to the Miami Herald, Fingerhut expressed his willingness to address the situation but indicated that university policies currently restrict him from doing so. The professor, who has a lengthy legal career, reflecting his tenure at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, characterized the ongoing situation as deeply painful and disappointing. He expressed gratitude for the support he has received from colleagues and superiors and voiced concerns about the broader implications of his experience within the context of institutional fears and cultural shifts in America.
Fingerhut has served as an educator for two decades at FIU and has a distinguished history in legal training and advocacy. In addition to his teaching role, he currently holds a position as Special Counsel in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, where he supervises training programs for prosecutors. Despite the allegations, Fingerhut retains his position at the State Attorney’s Office, and the office issued a statement expressing hope that FIU’s investigation will proceed fairly and expediently, ensuring all parties have the opportunity to address the issues at hand.
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