Woman at center of Cornell rape allegations targeted with threats, lawyer says
The woman who alleges that she was drugged and raped by students at Cornell University has received threats, according to her lawyer.
Thomas Giuffra, who represents the woman identified as “Jane Doe,” told CNN that she has been threatened with harm and intimidation unless she withdraws her civil lawsuit. The suit alleges that several members of a Cornell fraternity drugged and raped her in 2024.
Giuffra said his client has received multiple threats since the case came to public attention. He also disclosed that he had personally been threatened.
“I’m not afraid of these people,” Giuffra said, while condemning what he described as efforts to intimidate his client and protect the status quo.
The allegations have sparked renewed scrutiny of Cornell University’s handling of the case and the role of fraternities and sororities on campus.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message on Saturday that the university would undertake a review of fraternities and sororities following growing criticism over its response to the allegations.
He acknowledged that such organisations can offer students friendship, mentorship and a sense of community, but stressed that membership in a group cannot diminish an individual’s responsibility for their actions.
The case has also drawn criticism over the initial handling of the allegations by prosecutors in Tompkins County, New York, after the alleged incident in 2024.
Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate the case.
US President Donald Trump, who has previously criticised James, opposed the decision to appoint her and questioned whether those under investigation would receive fair treatment.
Giuffra, however, said the matter should not become a political issue, insisting that the case was about the allegations and the pursuit of justice rather than politics.
Source: Reuters
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