Screenshots of text messages have revealed new information regarding a lawsuit at Cornell University. A former student claimed she was drugged and raped in the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. Prosecutors have reopened the investigation into the alleged incident.
The Tompkins County district attorney stated that the victim’s original statement doesn’t align with the recent civil lawsuit. CBS News New York’s Investigative Reporter, Mahsa Saeidi, received these screenshots from a source. The images allegedly show texts between the former student, identified as Jane Doe, and one of the defendants accused in the lawsuit. The messages were reportedly sent two days after the alleged assault.
Details from the Texts
The messages start with the man apologizing for “how things went down.” He mentions his memory is “kinda fuzzy” and that he and another man regretted being too intoxicated to “shut it down and kick people out before it got way out of hand.” The woman replied, stating her memory is “super clouded too.” She noted that they were all heavily intoxicated and wrote, “none of the sexual stuff was illegal,” indicating she liked being with him and another man. Later, she suggested they smoke together again, “but like leave out the extra 5 billion men and ketamine.” CBS News New York also obtained a video of the fraternity’s group Snapchat conversation.
Attorney’s Statement on Denial
Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, confirmed she exchanged texts with the defendant shortly after the alleged assault. However, he couldn’t confirm if these were the specific texts. Giuffra mentioned Doe was in denial and traumatized after the alleged assaults. She was allegedly intoxicated to the point of incapacity and was trying to understand what happened. Giuffra outlined that Doe felt she needed to avoid an aggressive tone with the defendant if she wanted answers.
Giuffra also noted that it’s his understanding that these messages were reviewed during Cornell’s Title IX proceedings. He believes the panel recognized Doe was in denial. He argues that the expulsion of this defendant suggests the messages weren’t considered significant by the panel. He claims investigators failed to adequately follow up on evidence.
No arrests have been made among the accused, which Giuffra confirmed. CBS News New York spoke with Giuffra before receiving the screenshots and before the district attorney announced the reopening of the case.
Impact on the Victim
Giuffra shared insights into Cornell’s importance to Doe. “She came from a small town,” he explained. “Since she was a little girl, she wanted to go to Cornell. She worked really hard in school, worked really hard to get there. This was the pinnacle. This was the realization of her dream, and then this happens to her.” He disputes the district attorney’s version of Doe’s statement, claiming it’s not materially different from the lawsuit. Two other defendants in the lawsuit likewise deny the allegations.
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