Cornell rape allegation victim faces online harassment as case is reopened

A lawyer for the woman identified in court filings as Jane Doe said she is "not doing well" as she endures intense online scrutiny after filing a civil lawsuit alleging she was raped by seven men at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024. Giuffra told CNN that "she's under siege on social media where people are trying to identify her" and reiterated that his client, then 20, was "incapable of consent" because she was "completely, grossly intoxicated" when she arrived at the house. He added that she had been pressured to take ketamine before the alleged assault.

The case, which initially saw no criminal charges, was reopened following the civil filing, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to appoint Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the investigation. Hochul said she had lost confidence in the county prosecutor's handling of the matter and pledged to address a state law provision that complicates rape charges when victims have consumed alcohol or drugs.

Social media users have posted videos under the title "I am Jane Doe" to protect the victim's identity and share solidarity, while some commentators have called for her name to be revealed. Online investigators have also attempted to locate the alleged perpetrators, leading to at least one mistaken-identity incident.