The woman who reported being gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity is receiving threats that she will be “silenced” or harmed if she does not withdraw her civil lawsuit. Her lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, revealed that even women mistakenly identified as “Jane Doe” are receiving threats. Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken over the case as special prosecutor, while Donald Trump criticized the appointment.
Giorgos Papagiannis | 05.10.2026 world
The Cornell University case continues to shock the United States. This time, the development does not concern the incident itself, but the effort to intimidate the woman who reported it. As her lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, his client has received multiple threats that she will be “silenced” or harmed if she does not withdraw the civil lawsuit she has filed.
“She has received many threats,” Giuffra stressed, adding that he himself has been targeted with threats. “I’m not afraid of these people,” he stated, characterizing them as “despicable” and calling on them to stay in their mother’s basement and out of the world.
The most alarming element is that the threats are not limited to the accuser. According to her lawyer, women who were mistakenly identified as “Jane Doe” on social media have also received threats. Giuffra stated that at least three women who have no connection to the case have fallen victim to this targeting, while he himself received a threat on Sunday morning. He did not specify who is responsible, nor whether the threats have been reported to authorities.
The identity of “Jane Doe” has become a major issue in online discussions surrounding the case. Women on social media are posting videos with the caption “I am Jane Doe,” in solidarity with the accuser, attempting to make searches for her real name more difficult. Conversely, independent journalist and commentator Michael Tracey posted on Friday what he claimed was her real name, before deleting it, saying he had achieved his goal. Tracey has expressed sympathy for the accused men over the harassment they claim to have suffered, and argued that his effort to identify the victim is based on journalistic diligence protected by the US Constitution. On Sunday, he told Reuters that he did not wish to encourage threats or harassment against the woman, but insisted that the issue concerns the public policy implications of using anonymous complaints in civil lawsuits.
The case is now in a new phase, as New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the assignment of the case to state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. The decision came after Hochul admitted she had lost confidence in the ability of Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten to handle the case, following revelations about the initial stages of the investigation. She said she was “deeply disturbed” by how the initial investigation was conducted by Cornell police.
Van Houten had initially refused to press criminal charges in 2024, arguing that “Jane Doe’s” initial statement did not contain allegations of drugging without consent or gang rape. However, after the civil lawsuit became public, he reopened the investigation, stating he would present evidence to a grand jury. The governor then removed the case from his hands.
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Letitia James, commented on the development, saying the defendants “will not receive fair treatment.” Giuffra responded that the case “has nothing to do with politics,” calling for it not to be politicized.
Meanwhile, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced Saturday in a video message that the university will examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus. “At their best, these organizations can offer friendship, a sense of belonging, mentorship and a strong sense of community,” he said. “But being a member of a group can never reduce individual responsibility.” Kotlikoff pledged that the university’s board of trustees will announce an independent review of the handling of the case.
The case remains ongoing, with the special prosecutor investigating the evidence and the accused denying any wrongdoing. For “Jane Doe,” the legal path continues, but this time under the shadow of threats that, as her lawyer says, aim to silence her.
