Cornell frat house rape accuser 'under siege' online, says lawyer

Key Points:

• The woman alleging rape at a Cornell University fraternity house is struggling emotionally as she faces online harassment from individuals attempting to identify her, according to her lawyer Thomas Giuffra.
• The woman, identified as Jane Doe in legal documents, claims she was "incapable of consent" due to severe intoxication and was assaulted by seven men in 2024; she alleges she was pressured into taking ketamine before the incident.
• The case, initially without charges, has been reopened following a civil lawsuit, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to appoint Attorney General Letitia James to lead the investigation, citing loss of faith in the county prosecutor.
• Governor Hochul criticized the systemic failures faced by the victim and pledged to close a legal loophole that complicates prosecuting rape cases when victims have consumed alcohol or drugs voluntarily.
• Social media campaigns have emerged to protect Jane Doe’s identity, with many women posting solidarity videos under "I am Jane Doe," while some online users seek to unmask her and the accused men, causing confusion and mistaken identities.