Cornell Rape Accuser and Lawyer Receive Threats, Attorney Claims

The woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of drugging and raping her has received "disgusting" threats from individuals attempting to silence her, according to her attorney, Thomas Giuffra. Giuffra stated on CNN's State of the Union that his client, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, has been threatened with harm if she does not withdraw her civil lawsuit.

Giuffra also revealed that he himself has received threats related to the case. "I'm not afraid of these people," he said. "But the threats, the abuse to protect what's going on, the status quo - these guys are disgusting."

The allegations come as new details emerge about the night of the alleged assault. Campus police reportedly found drugs at the Chi Phi fraternity house hours before the incident and made a drug arrest, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. A Cornell Title IX investigation hearing panel decision also noted that an individual overdosed on ketamine at the fraternity house the night before the alleged rape.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff expressed that his "heart aches" for the accuser and voiced support for Governor Kathy Hochul's appointment of Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate the university's handling of the case, acknowledging that questions have been raised.

Two years ago, Cornell conducted its own investigation and disciplined several students. However, a criminal probe by the Tompkins County District Attorney's office did not result in any charges. Doe's lawsuit, filed earlier this month, reignited interest in the case with fresh allegations.

The lawsuit names Cornell University, seven fraternity brothers, and a local bar as defendants. The complaint alleges that Doe, then 20, was pressured to take ketamine and given marijuana and high-proof alcohol at the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024, after arriving intoxicated. She claims she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by fraternity members as others entered the room, with the ordeal continuing until she lost consciousness.

According to the lawsuit, a Snapchat message from a "Chi Phi Actives" group allegedly stated "free pussy" was upstairs, referring to Doe. Another member reportedly responded, "Like you can walk in and whip it out." Doe reported the allegations to Cornell University Police on November 8, 2024, after friends encouraged her. The university temporarily suspended the fraternity and seven students that day.

Doe eventually withdrew from Cornell. The lawsuit states that only two of the seven accused students were expelled, while others reportedly received lesser punishments, such as being asked to submit essays. The District Attorney's office has defended its decision not to file charges, citing discrepancies between Doe's initial statement and the lawsuit's allegations.

President Kotlikoff stated that the university welcomes an investigation into its handling of the case and acknowledged the community's anger, sadness, and struggle. "What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come," he said, adding that the university must prevent such incidents from happening again and improve campus culture, consent education, and transparency.

Governor Hochul reiterated concerns about the initial investigation, stating that "newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation," which has undermined public faith. Giuffra praised the appointment of James, expressing a lack of faith in the local District Attorney's ability to investigate the case. However, attorneys for some of the accused students have denied the claims, with some admitting to consensual sexual contact but disputing other allegations.