Newly obtained screenshots of text messages are shedding light on the events surrounding an alleged 2024 incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University. The messages, exchanged between a former student identified as Jane Doe and one of the defendants named in a related civil lawsuit, were sent just two days after the incident occurred. New York Investigative Reporter Mahsa Saeidi received new screenshots from a source.
The Tompkins County district attorney confirmed on Monday that the investigation into the matter is being reopened. This decision follows public statements from the district attorney claiming that the victim’s initial statement does not align with the narrative presented in her recent civil lawsuit. However, the attorney for the plaintiff, Thomas Giuffra, strongly disputes this, asserting that her account has remained consistent. New York spoke with Giuffra last week before obtaining the screenshots and before the district attorney announced he was reopening the case.
In the text chain, the male defendant begins by apologizing for how events unfolded, noting that his memory was “kinda fuzzy.” He expressed remorse, suggesting that he and another individual felt poorly about being too intoxicated to manage the situation or prevent it from escalating. The former student responded by stating that her own recollection was “super clouded” due to high levels of intoxication. The man started by apologizing for “how things went down.
Within the exchange, the woman wrote that she believed the sexual interactions were not illegal, noting she enjoyed the company of the two men. She later suggested they meet again to smoke, while humorously adding that they should leave out “the extra 5 billion men and ketamine.” According to he, She was intoxicated to the point of incapacity that night and was trying to find out what happened.
Thomas Giuffra, representing the plaintiff, acknowledged that his client communicated with the defendant shortly after the incident, though he could not verify if these specific screenshots represent the entirety of their exchange. He argued that the student was severely traumatized and in a state of shock at the time. According to Giuffra, Doe believed that adopting a non-confrontational tone was the only way to elicit honest answers from the defendant. That I can tell you for a fact,” he said.
The plaintiff’s attorney further explained that he understands these messages were previously presented during Title IX proceedings at Cornell. He posited that the university panel likely recognized the student was in a state of denial, which explains why the defendant’s expulsion was not directly tied to these specific texts. He further criticized the lack of criminal charges, emphasizing that none of the men involved were arrested.
Reflecting on his client’s experience, Giuffra noted that attending Cornell had been a lifelong aspiration for the student. “She came from a small town,” he said. “Since she was a little girl, she wanted to go to Cornell. This was the pinnacle. This was the realization of her dream, and then this happens to her.”
Beyond the text messages, reports indicate that other evidence, including video from a group Snapchat conversation, has been brought to light. As the legal process continues, two other defendants named in the civil lawsuit maintain their denials of the allegations. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has called for an official review of how the university handled the reports of the incident, amid ongoing scrutiny of the case. He is arguing investigators failed to fully follow up on evidence.
