The woman at the center of a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit against Cornell University and members of its Chi Phi fraternity is now facing threats intended to pressure her into withdrawing her legal action, according to her attorney.
Attorney Thomas Giuffra made the disclosure Sunday during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, saying his client has received multiple threats from individuals attempting to expose her identity. The plaintiff is referred to as Jane Doe in court filings.
Giuffra said the harassment has extended beyond his client, with at least three other women who were mistakenly identified as Jane Doe also receiving threats. He added that he himself received a threatening message Sunday morning.
The attorney did not disclose who is behind the threats or confirm whether law enforcement has been notified.
Jane Doe filed her lawsuit last month against Cornell University and seven fraternity members, alleging she was sexually assaulted over the course of several hours on the night of October 19 into October 20, 2024, while she was under the influence of ketamine, alcohol and marijuana.
The case has drawn intense national attention and raised serious questions about how both the university and local authorities responded to the allegations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul last week assigned Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to evaluate whether criminal charges should be pursued.
A recent report revealed that Cornell University police gathered witness interviews and received anonymous tips during their 2024 investigation, but Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten did not examine that additional evidence before declining to file charges. Van Houten has defended his decision by stating that Jane Doe’s initial six-page police statement did not explicitly allege criminal conduct.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff acknowledged Saturday that the institution failed to handle the situation adequately. He said the university’s board of trustees plans to announce an independent review of how the case was managed.
The threats against Jane Doe and the women mistakenly identified as her add a disturbing new layer to an already deeply troubling case that has prompted scrutiny of campus safety, institutional accountability and the treatment of sexual assault survivors within the university system.