Dallas Attorney Receives Threats Due to Antisemitic Cornell Student with Same Name

One Austin Franco (left) made an antisemitic comment, another got life threats.

A Dallas attorney said he and his family members have been receiving threats after a namesake, much younger, turned down an internship with a Jewish-owned company, saying he was not interested in working for a Jew. This Austin Franco is a Cornell University student and is now facing an investigation from the university over his antisemitic comments. Dallas's Austin Franco said he is an attorney, a husband, a father; has nothing to do with New York. "To make matters worse, the undergraduate looks just enough like me to be confusing," the attorney wrote calling the Cornell student the "bad Austin Franco".

Who is the bad 'Austin Franco'?

A Cornell student who made news after rejecting an internship interview with New York City startup VryfID, which connects renters with landlords while also verifying their identities. Its co-founder Aiden Einhorn shared the screenshot of his conversation with the student after he missed the interview. "Hi Austin, I dont think I saw you on the call today. I know Sundays are not the best times for meetings. I would still like to have a quick call and give you more details on the company, as well as what we are building. College students are vital part of helping VryfID grow. As a rising Senior at NYU Stern, I believe fellow students are crucial to the growth and success of what we are building," Aiden Einhorn wrote. "Not interested in working for a Jew. Thanks," Franco replied. "This kid applied to our job on handshake, we accepted him, and then he responded this," Gabe Einhorn said. After Gabe Einhorn posted a screenshot of the exchange, Franco said, "I was stating why I was not interested after you had asked to interview 3 times. I found out you were Jewish after the fact." "My experiences with Jews have not been pleasant, both in person and online. This is not to say I havent had positive experiences, but on the aggregate that is not the case," Franco said. "Obviously, the reactions by your community only serves to further prove my point and indicate your post on X was not done in good faith. I am sure that if you indicated you didn't want to work for someone who was white or Christian this would not have blown up to the capacity it has here today nor would you have been intimated as I have been. "

Cornell University condemned the comment and said they would investigate the matter. "Cornell condemns antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination in the strongest possible terms. The university is steadfastly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for every member of our community," the university said. Gabe said after he posted the screenshot, he also received a deluge of hatred from anti-Semitic socal media users who said he proved Franco right by posting the screenshot on social media.