Published : 04 Oct 2026, 11:10 PM
Updated : 04 Oct 2026, 11:10 PM
The woman who has alleged that she was drugged and raped by Cornell University students has received multiple threats, her lawyer said on Sunday, including threats of harm if she does not withdraw her lawsuit.
Thomas Giuffra, who represents the woman identified as “Jane Doe”, told CNN that she and he had both been threatened since she filed the civil case alleging that several members of a Cornell fraternity drugged and raped her in 2024.
“She’s received multiple threats,” Giuffra said on CNN’s “State of the Union”.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message on Saturday that the university would examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus following an outcry over its handling of the allegations.
“At their best, these organisations can provide students with friendship, belonging, mentorship and a powerful sense of community,” Kotlikoff said. “But being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility.”
Prosecutors in Tompkins County, New York, have faced criticism over their initial handling of the allegations in 2024 since the lawsuit was filed last month.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul last week appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to examine the case.
US President Donald Trump, who has long criticised James, objected to her appointment. “And I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake,” Trump told reporters on Friday.
Asked about Trump’s remarks, Giuffra said the case should not become politicised.
“It has nothing to do with politics,” he said.
