Cornell review backed Doe's lawyer alleges coverup

Sep 30

Goodman reports Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff's Saturday support for an independent law-firm review whose details the trustees would announce the following week. Kotlikoff also directly supports the governor's referral of the criminal inquiry to the state attorney general. Amid calls for his resignation, Jane Doe's attorney Thomas Giuffra says on CNN Sunday that his client faces threats and harassment. He alleges an extraordinary coverup, citing a rape allegation omitted from the police summary and fraternity group-chat messages that he says should have prompted a criminal investigation. His accusations are not adjudicated findings.

Governor Kathy Hochul says Cornell has accepted her request for an independent outside investigation into how the university handled the former student's Chi Phi assault allegations. ABC airs her explanation that the public, the woman, her family and the university community need to know whether Cornell did what it should, and its reporter says Cornell confirms the outside review. This is agreement to a review, not a completed investigation or a finding on the underlying allegations. Democracy Now's October 5 headline and full interview carry Kotlikoff's October 3 reaffirmation: the trustees would announce details of an independent law-firm review in the following week. The full interview includes Tuerkheimer's assessment of outside scrutiny and campus culture. This updates the already accepted review, with no completed inquiry, selected firm or new finding established.