A Cornell University student who alleges she was raped has received “disgusting” threats from people questioning her account and attempting to silence her, according to her attorney.
Thomas Giuffra, who represents the woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe, said she had been threatened with harm unless she abandoned her civil lawsuit. The complaint alleges that several members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and raped her at the fraternity house in October 2024.
“She’s received multiple threats,” Giuffra said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, adding that he had also been targeted.
“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. They should stay in their mother’s basement and stay out of the world.”
Giuffra spoke after reports emerged that Cornell University Police had discovered drugs at the fraternity house only hours before the alleged assault and had made a drug-related arrest, according to The Cornell Daily Sun.
A recently released decision from a hearing panel involved in Cornell’s Title IX investigation, obtained by the Daily Sun, also said that someone overdosed on ketamine at the house the night before the alleged rape.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff has since said his “heart aches” for the unidentified woman.
Kotlikoff also backed Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor. He acknowledged that concerns have been raised over the university’s handling of the case two years ago.
Thomas Giuffra, who represents the woman who has accused fraternity members of rape, said his client has received threats
A female student at Cornell University has alleged in a recent lawsuit that she was raped by multiple fraternity members in 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house
Cornell conducted its own investigation at the time and disciplined several students. However, a criminal investigation by the office of District Attorney Matthew Van Houten ended without charges being filed.
The case drew renewed attention earlier this month after Doe filed a lawsuit containing additional allegations.
The lawsuit lists Cornell University, seven fraternity members and a local bar as defendants. None of the seven men has been criminally charged.
According to the complaint, Doe was 20 when she arrived at the Chi Phi house on October 19, 2024, after drinking heavily during a night out in Ithaca.
She alleges that she was pressured into taking ketamine and was given marijuana and high-proof alcohol before being sexually assaulted repeatedly as more fraternity members entered the room.
The complaint claims that seven men ultimately took part and that Doe became “completely incapacitated.” She alleges that the incident continued until about 5:45 a.m., when she lost consciousness.
The filing further alleges that, during the assault, one fraternity member posted a message in a “Chi Phi Actives” Snapchat group saying there was “free p***y” upstairs, referring to Doe.
Another member allegedly replied, “Like you can walk in and whip it out,” according to a screenshot described in the lawsuit.
Doe reported the allegations to Cornell University Police on November 8, after friends encouraged her to come forward, the lawsuit says.
Cornell temporarily suspended the fraternity and seven students that day.
The lawsuit included alleged messages on Snapchat of Chi Phi fraternity members apparently discussing the incident
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The accuser, only identified in court documents as Jane Doe, spoke with campus police on November 14. Students are pictured walking past Cornell Police headquarters last week
Doe eventually dropped out of the university. The lawsuit also alleges that only two of the seven alleged attackers were expelled and some were asked only to submit essays.
Doe had given a statement to authorities after the incident and the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office did not file charges.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has since defended his office’s decision, citing differences between her initial statement and the allegations outlined in the new lawsuit.
In his video statement, Kotlikoff said he ‘welcomed’ an investigation into Cornell’s handling and supported the governor’s decision to appoint James.
Campus administration will also support legislative efforts to strengthen laws on sexual assault and intoxication, he added.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message on Saturday that the administration welcomed an investigation into the university’s handling of the 2024 alleged rape case
The university president then went on to call the days following the lawsuit ‘one of the most difficult weeks’ in Cornell history, adding that he acknowledged students were ‘angry, sad and struggling.’
‘What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come,’ the president continued.
‘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.’
‘We must do everything we can to prevent what happened to Jane Doe, and everyone before her, and anyone after her, from ever happening again.’
Kotlikoff also promised to improve campus culture and ensure students understand consent moving forward.
He added that campus administration would make a ‘greater effort’ to be transparent with students.
Kotlikoff said there will be announcements in the coming weeks for broader conversations, including the role that Greek life plays on campus.
The president concluded that Cornell was ‘listening, learning and committed to communicating more openly.’
‘This is a defining moment in Cornell’s history. We must lead the way. We owe it to Jane Doe and to survivors of assault to get this right, and we must keep each other safe,’ he said.
Cornell has backed the DA’s decision to revisit the case. Chi Phi has been banned from campus since 2024
The governor has reiterated the public’s concerns about the initial handling of the case, saying in a statement that ‘newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation,’ which has in turn ‘undercut my faith, and the public’s faith.’
Giuffra praised the decision to appoint James, adding he ‘had no faith in DA Van Houten’s ability or desire to actively investigate and prosecute this case.’
But Jeremy Saland, an attorney for accused student Scott Kretzschmar, said his client denies the claims and warned against letting public outrage become a presumption of guilt.
Two other defendants, Scott Norris and Gillio Lopes, have also publicly denied participating in the alleged sexual assaults or drug use described in the complaint.
At the time of Cornell’s 2024 investigation, the other four defendants admitted to sexual contact with Jane Doe but insisted it was consensual.
