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Cornell rape accuser faces threats demanding she drop her lawsuit, attorney says

The woman’s attorney said women mistakenly identified as Jane Doe have also received threats and he received one Sunday morning.

02:21

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Oct. 4, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

The woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Cornell University fraternity members has received threats pressuring her to drop her lawsuit, her attorney said Sunday.

Thomas Giuffra told CNN’s “State of the Union” that people attempting to unmask his client’s identity had also targeted at least three women mistakenly identified as her. The former Cornell student is identified as Jane Doe in court documents.

“She’s received multiple threats, and women who aren’t even Jane Doe receive threats,” Giuffra said. He added that he had received a threat Sunday morning.

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Giuffra did not identify those responsible or say whether the threats had been reported to law enforcement. He did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for more information about the threats.

Jane Doe filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell and seven Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging she was sexually assaulted over the course of hours on Oct. 19-20, 2024, while she was under the influence of ketamine, alcohol and marijuana.

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The allegations have sparked renewed scrutiny of the university’s and local authorities’ handling of the allegations. Gov. Kathy Hochul last week appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to consider whether criminal charges are appropriate.

NBC News reported Friday that Cornell police interviewed witnesses and received anonymous tips during their investigation in 2024, but Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten did not review that additional information before deciding not to pursue charges at the time. He has defended his decision, saying that Jane Doe’s initial six-page statement to police did not allege criminality.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said Saturday that the university must do better and that its board of trustees would announce an independent review of its handling of the case next week.

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