Screenshots of text messages have brought new information to light in the Cornell University alleged gang rape lawsuit. A former student claims she was drugged and raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. New developments have prompted prosecutors to reopen the investigation.
The Tompkins County district attorney is looking into discrepancies between the victim’s original statement and recent civil lawsuit claims. Investigative Reporter Mahsa Saeidi of CBS News New York obtained these text messages from an undisclosed source. The texts show a conversation between the former student, referred to as Jane Doe, and one defendant accused in the lawsuit. These messages were exchanged two days after the alleged event.
The man in the text apologized, saying his memory was “kinda fuzzy” and expressed regret for being too drunk to “shut it down.” Doe’s response also indicated a foggy memory, mentioning everyone was heavily intoxicated. She stated none of the activities were illegal and mentioned her enjoyment of spending time with him and another man. She further suggested they meet again under different circumstances.
A video of the fraternity’s Snapchat group conversation was also obtained by CBS News New York. Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, confirmed her text exchange with the defendant but did not verify these specific messages. He explained Doe’s denial and trauma following the assault. Giuffra noted she was incapacitated that night, seeking clarification of events.
He elaborated that attempting an aggressive tone with the defendant would not have yielded answers. According to Giuffra, these texts surfaced during Cornell’s Title IX proceedings. He believes the panel acknowledged Doe’s denial. Giuffra argued that the defendant’s expulsion indicates the texts were not deemed significant. He highlighted a lack of arrests, questioning the investigation’s thoroughness.
“Not one of these guys was arrested. Not one. That I can tell you for a fact,” he affirmed.
Giuffra discussed Cornell’s importance to Doe, emphasizing her hard work to attend the university. “She came from a small town,” he reflected. “Since she was a little girl, she wanted to go to Cornell. This was the pinnacle of her dream.” He disputed the district attorney’s view of Doe’s statement, arguing it aligns with the lawsuit. Two other defendants also deny the allegations.