New York judge rules Cornell 'Jane Doe' can stay anonymous in alleged fraternity gang-rape lawsuit after she faced threats

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 October 2026 · last updated 25 October 2026.

Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond warned that online sleuths have made it 'their mission' to unmask the woman. Perry-Bond said threats or cyberstalking across state lines, whether aimed at her, the accused students or their lawyers, could be prosecuted as federal crimes. The woman, 20 at the time, says she was drugged and raped at the Ivy League university in 2024. The defendants did not oppose her request to remain anonymous.

Her lawsuit, filed on 16 September, pushed prosecutors to reopen a case they had closed without charges.

Attorney General Letitia James reportedly plans to hire outside counsel to investigate the 'Cornell 7'.