Cornell Fraternity Rape Accuser Alleges Threats, Lawyer Says

Thu Oct 08 2026 06:13:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Cornell University lawyer Thomas Giuffra reports that both he and his client, a woman alleged to have been raped on campus, have received death threats after the case attracted media attention.

Thomas Giuffra, representing Jane Doe, claims that the accuser’s civil lawsuit has prompted death‑threatening messages directed at both the lawyer and the client. The allegations stem from an alleged rape that occurred at a Cornell fraternity house in 2024, but no criminal charges were initially filed. After a civil suit was lodged, the case was reopened and gained national coverage. Giuffra discussed the threats, the lack of criminal action and comments by Donald Trump in a recent BBC Newsnight interview.

Cornell University lawyer Thomas Giuffra has told the BBC that he and his client, a woman known only as Jane Doe, have received death‑threatening messages since the 2024 allegations of rape at a fraternity house on campus went public.

The case originally received no criminal charges, but the filing of a civil lawsuit reopened the matter and attracted attention from the media and political figures. Giuffra explained that the increased visibility of the lawsuit has unfortunately led to threats directed at both him and Doe.

In addition to the threats, Giuffra discussed trumped-up conjectures about the case, including comments made by former President Donald Trump in a recent interview with BBC Newsnight. He stressed that the case remains under investigation and has significant implications for all involved.