The woman who claims she was drugged and raped at Cornell University has been subjected to "disgusting" threats from individuals seeking to intimidate her into withdrawing her civil lawsuit, according to her attorney, Thomas Giuffra. Giuffra stated that both he and his client have received threats.
"She's received multiple threats," Giuffra said on CNN's State of the Union. "The threats, the abuse to protect what's going on, the status quo - these guys are disgusting."
Giuffra represents the accuser, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, in her lawsuit alleging that members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and raped her at their house in October 2024. The lawsuit also names Cornell University, seven fraternity brothers, and a local bar as defendants. None of the seven men have faced criminal charges.
Doe's lawsuit, filed earlier this month, has reignited interest in the case. She alleges that on October 19, 2024, she arrived at the fraternity house heavily intoxicated and was pressured to consume ketamine. She further alleges she was given marijuana and high-proof alcohol before being sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members who entered the room. The complaint claims seven men participated while she was incapacitated and states that a fraternity member posted a message on a "Chi Phi Actives" Snapchat group referring to Doe as "free p***y" upstairs. Another member allegedly responded, according to a screenshot described in the filing.
Doe reported the alleged assault to Cornell University Police on November 8, and the university temporarily suspended the fraternity and seven students that day. She later dropped out of Cornell. A statement from Cornell's District Attorney, Matthew Van Houten, indicated that his office's criminal probe did not result in charges, citing discrepancies between Doe's initial statement and the allegations in the new lawsuit. Van Houten has defended his office's decision.
However, newly released information from Cornell's Title IX investigation, obtained by The Cornell Daily Sun, indicates that campus police found drugs at the fraternity house hours before the alleged attack and made a drug arrest. The hearing panel decision also noted that an individual overdosed on ketamine at the Chi Phi house the night before the alleged rape.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff expressed that his "heart aches" for Doe and supported Governor Kathy Hochul's appointment of Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor. Kotlikoff acknowledged that questions have been raised about the university's handling of the case two years ago and stated that the university welcomed an investigation into its actions.
"What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come," Kotlikoff said in a video message. "My heart aches when I think of what she experienced. It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use."
He promised to work on improving campus culture, emphasizing consent, and increasing transparency with students. Kotlikoff indicated that further announcements regarding campus conversations, including the role of Greek life, would be made in the coming weeks. He called the situation a "defining moment" for Cornell.
Governor Hochul has also voiced concerns, stating that "newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation," which has diminished her and the public's faith in the initial process. Giuffra praised the appointment of James, expressing a lack of confidence in DA Van Houten's ability or willingness to prosecute the case.
Some of the accused fraternity members have publicly denied the allegations. An attorney for Scott Kretzschmar stated his client denies the claims and cautioned against presumptive guilt based on public outcry. Scott Norris and Gillio Lopes have also denied participating in the alleged assaults or drug use. According to the lawsuit, four other defendants admitted to sexual contact with Doe but maintained it was consensual.