Cornell Accuser Claimed False Transgender Rumors, Text Messages Reveal

Newly resurfaced text messages from the accuser in the alleged gang rape case involving seven Cornell fraternity brothers reveal she discussed rumors about her being transgender with one of the accused men. The communications, obtained by CBS News, emerged as the accuser, identified as Jane Doe, began exchanging messages with Matthew Umar Ingalls in the days following an October 2024 party she later reported as a gang rape.

In one exchange, Doe advised Ingalls on how to handle gossip, stating, “People always want to talk about soemthing like i had transgender allegations last year but i just gave it no attention and it disappeared.” She further suggested that silence was the most effective response.

Days later, on Oct. 23, Doe reiterated the point to Ingalls, lamenting that rumors surrounding the Chi Phi party were negatively impacting her life. "Also i had transgender allegations last year too so if anyone mentions it i mention the fact that i’ve been rumored about so many times. And we know i’m not transgender so,” Doe wrote. Ingalls responded with crying-laughing emojis.

Doe's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, described this behavior as a "textbook response to sexual assault" with "classic symptoms of delayed recognition," according to CBS News. In the same conversation thread, Doe dismissed the gossip as stemming from jealousy and expressed an open-minded view on evolving social norms regarding sex and relationships.

In separate messages, Doe also communicated with another accused fraternity brother, Jonathan Newell, inquiring about lost earrings. Weeks later, on Nov. 3, Doe's tone shifted dramatically. She messaged Newell, stating, “Let’s be clear that 90% of what happened that night was not consensual. i was given more key [ketamine] than i can remember and i know that i told you i felt uncomfortable and i didn’t know anyone in the room. all i remember after that was u giving me ket to do off your d–k in front of everyone like a sex doll/worker.”

Doe visited an emergency room on Nov. 7 to request a rape kit before officially reporting the assault to the police. The following day, the Chi Phi fraternity was suspended, and Cornell initiated a Title IX investigation.

While no fraternity members faced criminal prosecution, Ingalls and Newell were expelled from the university. The case gained national attention after Doe filed a lawsuit last month, prompting authorities to reopen the investigation with a special prosecutor. All seven men named in the lawsuit—Ingalls, Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschma—deny the allegations.