Cornell Accuser Claims ‘Our Body Our Choice’ in Texts
Text messages reveal conflicting accounts of alleged assault at Cornell University.
2 min read
Cornell University’s Jane Doe, a student who later filed a civil lawsuit alleging rape, sent text messages two days after the incident that contradict her later claims, according to a text chain obtained by TMZ. The messages, exchanged with Jonathan Newell, one of seven Chi Phi fraternity members named in her lawsuit, show a complex and conflicting narrative.
Conflicting Accounts in Texts
The texts, dated October 21, 2024, show Doe describing the night as ‘super clouded’ due to intoxication, with both she and Newell being ‘way to f***ing drunk and high.’ Doe thanked Newell for his apology, saying she ‘really liked being w u and matt,’ and asserted that ‘anything anyone has to say about the gamgbang [sic] is out of their jurisdiction.’ She also wrote, ‘our body our choice asf,’ suggesting she believed her actions were consensual.
Legal and Institutional Responses
The texts surfaced as Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten moves to bring the case before a grand jury, nearly two years after he declined to file charges. Van Houten noted that Doe’s original statement to police described the night differently than her lawsuit, emphasizing that she had not alleged being drugged or gang raped.
Doe’s 101-page civil suit, filed in September, alleges she was forcibly dosed with ketamine and raped by seven fraternity members over several hours. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has criticized Cornell’s internal punishments as insufficient. Ingalls and Newell were expelled; the other five received suspensions or lesser sanctions. All seven have denied wrongdoing and are not criminally charged.
Institutional and Political Implications
The reopened investigation has drawn attention to how elite institutions handle sexual assault allegations. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor, while Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff released a video apology. The Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus, highlighting the broader implications for university policies and accountability.
Source: Breitbart
