The attorney representing the woman who alleges she was raped at a Cornell University fraternity house stated that his client is struggling with intense harassment from internet users attempting to reveal her identity. Thomas Giuffra described the woman, known in legal filings as Jane Doe, as being “under siege” on social media platforms.
Giuffra emphasized that Jane Doe, who was 20 years old at the time of the alleged incident in 2024, was “completely, grossly intoxicated” and therefore incapable of giving consent. He further claimed that she was pressured into taking the drug ketamine prior to the assault at the Ithaca, New York campus.
No criminal charges were initially filed following the 2024 allegations. However, the case has been reopened after Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit, which brought national attention to the claims and revived the possibility of criminal prosecution.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James to take over the investigation on Friday, citing a loss of confidence in the county prosecutor’s handling of the matter. Hochul criticized the failure of institutions tasked with protecting the victim, stating, “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.”
During a news conference, Hochul also promised to address a gap in state law that hinders rape charges when an alleged victim has voluntarily consumed alcohol or drugs.
In response to the online threats, thousands of women have taken to social media under the hashtag “I am Jane Doe” to protect the accuser’s anonymity and share their own stories of sexual assault. The movement gained momentum after a political commentator vowed to expose her identity, arguing it was unfair for her to remain anonymous while the accused men are publicly named despite not facing charges.
The harassment has extended beyond the accuser, with online sleuths attempting to locate the addresses of the individuals referred to as the “Cornell Seven.” This has resulted in mistaken identities; at least one active-duty US Marine Corps sergeant with the same name as one of the accused was incorrectly served with the lawsuit and subsequently faced a wave of abuse and threats, according to reports from the Free Press.
Finally, a governor is holding institutions accountable. The legal gap regarding voluntary intoxication must be closed immediately.
Wait, an innocent Marine sergeant got harassed by mistake? This online mob mentality is completely out of control now.
The ‘I am Jane Doe’ movement shows incredible solidarity. Online vigilantes have gone way too far with doxxing attempts.