Student rape accuser ‘under siege’ from threats telling her to drop case
Updated . First published at
A woman who accused fraternity members from an elite American university of sexually assaulting her is now facing a barrage of online threats to make her drop the lawsuit, her lawyer says.
She alleges seven fraternity members from Cornell University in New York state sexually assaulted her in 2024. The woman is also suing the university.
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University. AP
Thomas Giuffra told CNN on Sunday (Monday AEDT) his client was not faring well and was receiving threats online.
“She’s not doing well ... and she’s under siege on social media where people are trying to identify her,” he said.
Giuffra also said that people attempting to unmask his client’s identity had also targeted at least three women mistakenly identified as her.
Court papers identify the former Cornell University student as Jane Doe, a placeholder name referring to an anonymous or unidentified woman, or a female party in a legal case whose true identity is unknown or kept secret.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said last Friday the woman was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including campus police at the Ivy League university and the county prosecutor.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a news conference on Friday, October 2. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Hochul said she decided to appoint New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the investigation after learning “troubling details” about how authorities have handled the woman’s claims.
These include the district attorney closing the case without the accusers or suspects in the attack being interviewed.
“In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?” Hochul said.
“This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her.”
Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message that he acknowledged the troubling questions about the investigations that followed the allegations.
“My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,” Kotlikoff said.
“It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanisation and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”
Kotlikoff reaffirmed his commitment to supporting an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the case called for by Hochul and said the university’s Board of Trustees would announce details this week.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
