Cornell fraternity rape case victim under siege from online sleuths, lawyer says
Quick Look
The lawyer for a woman who alleges she was raped by seven men at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024 says she is under siege from online sleuths trying to identify her, as New York Governor Kathy Hochul appoints Attorney General Letitia James to take over the investigation after losing faith in the county prosecutor.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The woman alleges she was raped by seven men at a Cornell University fraternity house in Ithaca, New York, in 2024. No charges were initially filed, but the case reopened after she filed a civil lawsuit.
The lawyer for the woman who alleges she was raped at a Cornell University fraternity house says she is "not doing well" as she finds herself "under siege" from online sleuths seeking to identity her.
Thomas Giuffra said the woman known in legal documents as Jane Doe was "incapable of consent" because she was "completely, grossly intoxicated" when she turned up at the home where she says the assault took place.
The woman alleges she was raped by seven men at the campus in Ithaca, New York, in 2024.
No charges were initially filed in the case. It has reopened since she filed a civil lawsuit that thrust the claims into the national spotlight, reigniting the possibility of criminal charges.
In an interview on Friday with CNN, Giuffra said: "She's under siege on social media where people are trying to identify her."
He said that postings have "incorrectly" identified other woman as Doe.
In an interview with CBS, the BBC's US partner, Giuffra argued that his client, aged 20 at the time, was unable to provide consent because she was intoxicated when she arrived at the fraternity house.
Giuffra said she had been pressured into taking the drug ketamine before she was allegedly raped.
His comments came as New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed the state's top prosecutor, Attorney General Letitia James, to take over the investigation.
At a news conference on Friday, Hochul said she had "lost faith" in the county prosecutor's ability to oversee the case.
"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," Hochul said.
She also vowed to close a "loophole" of state law that makes it difficult to press rape charges if an alleged victim voluntarily consumes alcohol or drugs.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Criminal charges may be filed in the case following the Attorney General's takeover of the investigation.
Possible · Within months
New York state may close the legal loophole that makes it difficult to press rape charges if an alleged victim voluntarily consumes alcohol or drugs.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Will criminal charges be filed against the alleged perpetrators?
- What evidence supports the claim that the victim was given ketamine without her knowledge?
- How will the appointment of Attorney General Letitia James affect the investigation?
- What specific loophole in state law does Governor Hochul aim to close?
