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Judge lets Cornell accuser keep her identity hidden as lawsuit moves forward
A judge approved the Cornell accuser's request to stay anonymous in her civil suit against 7 Chi Phi members and warned online harassers about federal charges.
The woman suing several Cornell fraternity members will not have to reveal her name in court.
Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond signed off on her request to go forward as Jane Doe, according to reports. The order keeps her identity shielded while the civil case plays out.
A warning to online harassers
The ruling went further than the name question. The judge cautioned that anybody who cyberstalks or harasses people tied to the case could end up facing federal charges.
That protection covers everyone involved. It applies to Jane Doe herself, to the fraternity members she accuses and to the lawyers on both sides.
What the suit claims
Her lawsuit targets 7 members of the Chi Phi fraternity. She alleges they gang raped her in 2024.
The defendants have not been found liable for anything. The claims are allegations in a civil complaint.
Why the case drew attention
Interest in the suit spiked after an alleged screenshot from a Chi Phi Snapchat group surfaced. In it one of the defendants appeared to tip off his fraternity brothers with a crude message on the night in question.
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