Threat claims heighten scrutiny of Cornell’s handling of assault allegations
A lawyer for a woman suing over alleged sexual assaults says he and his client have received threats. Cornell has backed an outside review, while New York has appointed a special prosecutor.
Thomas Giuffra, lawyer for a woman identified as Jane Doe, told CNN that she had received multiple threats to silence or harm her unless she withdrew her civil lawsuit. Giuffra said he had also been threatened. The source report provides no independent verification or details about who made the threats.
The lawsuit alleges that Cornell University students drugged and raped Doe in 2024. The claims have not been established in court, and the students are not identified in the report.
Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff has backed an independent review by an outside law firm into the university’s handling of the case. He also said the university would examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus.
The case has drawn criticism of how the allegations were handled, including from prosecutors in Tompkins County, New York, over their initial response in 2024.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to look into the case. After US President Donald Trump criticised the appointment, Giuffra said the case should not be politicised.
