Ohio Football Team Rape Trial to Begin Today

Steubenville scandal

A divisive rape case that has rocked Steubenville, Ohio, goes to trial Wednesday in a small steel town community whose reputation has been severely damaged by cover-up allegations — just hours after the defense won a battle to force the accusers' friends to testify.

Accusations that two Steubenville High School football stars used their hands to violate a drunken 16-year-old girl during a night of victory parties in August became national news because of graphic cellphone photos and video that spread on social media.