A prominent Cornell Law professor has criticized the public's response to the alleged gang rape case involving seven fraternity brothers, asserting that the discourse has devolved into a "lynch mob mentality" where individuals are prematurely judged.

Menachem Rosensaft, a visiting professor at Cornell Law School, deemed it "irresponsible" to release the names and images of the accused students before a conviction. He acknowledged the severity of the allegations, stating, "The underlying case is horrific. The trauma suffered by this young woman is utterly horrific, and I think that the decision by the DA [district attorney] to reopen the case and re-examine it is absolutely appropriate."

However, Rosensaft expressed concern over the swift condemnation of the seven students in the "court of public opinion." He stated, "What troubles me is that this has turned very quickly into a lynch mob mentality in which no one is looking at any of the underlying issues. Basically, the seven students involved have already been judged, sentenced, and condemned in the court of public opinion."

The case, often referred to as the "Cornell 7," gained public attention when a former student filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and gang-raped at a Chi Phi fraternity party in October 2024. She is seeking damages for physical, emotional, and psychological injuries, as well as for the loss of her education.

Following an internal university probe, two fraternity members were expelled, and the Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus. The Tompkins County District Attorney, Matthew Van Houten, has reopened an investigation into the matter.

The case has drawn national attention, including commentary from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who suggested that "the culture of rape, sexual assault and pedophilia is protected in elite institutions," including Cornell.

Rosensaft drew parallels between the public reaction to the Cornell case and former President Trump's response to the Central Park Five case in the late 1980s, where Trump advocated for the death penalty for the wrongly accused youths. Rosensaft argued that broadly labeling the situation as indicative of a "rape culture" unfairly condemns the entire student body.

"Referring to a rape culture, which tars over 20,000 students who have absolutely nothing to do with it... is just simply irresponsible, and it’s wrong," Rosensaft said. "It’s a rushing to judgment without thinking about... what the ultimate facts and the nuances are."

He also highlighted an instance where an individual not involved in the alleged incident faced public backlash due to having the same name as one of the accused.

"What I’m really concerned about is that there is a tendency, especially with social media, to jump on issues, and never mind the facts, never mind nuances, and to go for the cheap headline, for the cheap moment of publicity," Rosensaft stated.

While emphasizing that he does not doubt the accuser's testimony or charges, Rosensaft stressed her right to be heard and have her day in court. He also commented on the initial law enforcement response, suggesting it could have been different.

Rosensaft concluded by using an analogy: "If you have a mugging taking place in midtown Manhattan, the person responsible is the mugger, not the entire population of Manhattan."