Cornell Fraternity Member Revealed as Whistleblower in Alleged Gang Rape Case

A member of the Cornell University Chi Phi fraternity allegedly provided critical evidence in the ongoing investigation into a purported gang rape, according to the accuser's attorney. Thomas Giuffra revealed that a fraternity brother turned over a Snapchat message that read “free p–sy,” referencing the alleged victim, to the accuser.

Giuffra also criticized Cornell Police and the Tompkins County District Attorney's office for their initial handling of the case, alleging that crucial evidence may have been lost due to a lack of thorough investigation two years ago. He stated that the district attorney's office did not conduct its own investigation at the time, leaving the campus police to handle it alone. "Had members of the fraternity been interviewed, and leads followed up, I believe we would have much more detail about what had occurred," Giuffra said.

No charges have been filed in connection with the allegations. However, following the victim's civil suit filed earlier this month, District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced the reopening of the investigation, citing new details about the incident. Van Houten released portions of the victim's initial statement to Cornell University Police, asserting it did not explicitly mention being drugged or gang-raped. Giuffra suggested this statement was a result of the limited initial interaction with investigators.

Giuffra further expressed disappointment with the university's response, stating that Cornell refused to refund the victim's tuition after the alleged assault. This decision, he claims, effectively forced the 20-year-old student to remain enrolled at the university alongside her alleged assailants, particularly as she comes from a family that could not easily afford alternative tuition. "Not a lot of humanity thrown around," Giuffra commented on the university's actions.

Giuffra acknowledged the DA's decision to reopen the investigation but voiced concerns that it might be too late to conduct a comprehensive probe. He stated his appreciation for efforts to prosecute those responsible and pledged full cooperation with the District Attorney's Office. He also noted that the discrepancies between the initial interview and the lawsuit details, including mentions of ketamine use, are due to his multiple meetings with the victim to gather specific facts.