Jane Doe Texts Contradict Rape Allegations, Court Documents Reveal

Jane Doe, who is suing seven members of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity for gang rape, sent text messages to one of the accused fraternity brothers stating that while her memory of the events was "clouded," she believed that "none of the sexual stuff was illegal." The messages were sent the day after the alleged assault.

Doe filed a civil lawsuit last month, claiming she was coerced into taking drugs and sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members at an off-campus house on October 20, 2024. Prosecutors previously determined there was "insufficient evidence" to pursue criminal charges, and the seven men have denied the accusations.

According to texts obtained by TMZ, Jonathan Newell, one of the accused fraternity brothers, reached out to Doe the day after the alleged incident. Newell stated his memory of the night was "kinda fuzzy" and that he and another accused brother, Matthew Ingalls, felt remorse for being too intoxicated to intervene before events "got way out of hand."

Doe responded to Newell, expressing appreciation for his text and stating her own memories were "super clouded." She added, "I think we were all way to f**king drunk and high. At the end of the day non [sic] of the sexual stuff was illegal and honestly I really liked being w u and matt."

Cornell University launched a Title IX investigation into the students in 2025 and subsequently shut down the fraternity. Newell was expelled from Cornell following the Title IX investigation. Records also indicate Newell was later expelled from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

In the texts, Newell called Doe an "amazing person" and expressed hope she was not facing as much "heat" as the fraternity brothers. Doe reportedly dismissed concerns from others about the incident, writing, "So anything anyone has to say about the gamgbang [sic] is out of their jurisdiction. I don't think we should feel any shame for the part. our body our choice."

Internal Cornell documents detailed by The New York Times revealed that Newell was scheduled to work the night of the alleged attack as a sober safety monitor, tasked with remaining sober and identifiable to assist partygoers in emergencies. However, Doe alleged in her lawsuit that Newell and other fraternity brothers supplied her with drugs and alcohol before the alleged assault.

Doe, identified under the pseudonym Jane Doe, alleged that she was sexually assaulted over a seven-hour period. The lawsuit states that Newell sent a Snapchat message to his fraternity brothers inviting them to join during this time. Newell has denied the allegations, telling investigators he had consensual sexual activity with Doe and claimed not to remember sending the Snapchat message.