The attorney for a woman who alleges she was drugged and gang raped by seven former Cornell University Chi Phi members has accused the fraternity of organising a cover-up.
Thomas Giuffra, representing Jane Doe, said members allegedly held meetings to coordinate their response and prevent the alleged assault from becoming public.
Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Mr Giuffra claimed the men tried to establish whether Ms Doe was collecting information about the incident. He said they withdrew after deciding she would not accept their account of what had happened.
Mr Giuffra also alleged that 57 people received messages in a group chat connected to the incident. He claimed only the person who passed the messages to Ms Doe took action, while no one else reported the alleged conduct to police or challenged what he described as efforts to protect the fraternity members.
He said the fraternity’s focus had allegedly been on preserving its reputation and shielding those accused, rather than seeking justice.
Ms Doe sued Cornell, Chi Phi and the seven former members last month. She alleges the men drugged and gang raped her in 2024 and claims the university failed to protect her.
The case has prompted a reopened investigation after the District Attorney’s Office initially declined to prosecute, citing Ms Doe’s previous statements that she had voluntarily consumed drugs and alcohol.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been assigned to oversee the investigation, which remains ongoing.
