Cornell Jane Doe Allegedly Said 'Our Body Our Choice' in Texts About a 'Gangbang' Two Days After Reported Assault

Text excerpts attributed to Cornell complainant Jane Doe include the phrase 'our body our choice' and a reference to clouded memories in an exchange with Jonathan Newell, one of the men she later accused of sexual assault. TMZ, which published the excerpts, dates the conversation to 21 October 2024, two days after the encounter.

The excerpts have not been independently authenticated by this publication. They do not, by themselves, establish consent or resolve the allegations and should be considered alongside Doe's subsequent account, the defendants' denials and Cornell's reported disciplinary findings.

Published Excerpts Include Remarks About Affection and Shame

The excerpts published by TMZ include affectionate remarks that the outlet attributes to Doe about Newell and Matthew Ingalls. One excerpt read, 'i really liked being w u and matt', while another included 'our body our choice asf'.

The published account also described Doe saying they should not feel ashamed about the encounter. Those remarks were statements attributed to her afterwards, rather than a complete account of what happened during each sexual act.

The messages have not been independently authenticated by this publication. They are reported here as excerpts published by TMZ, alongside subsequent allegations and the outcomes of Cornell's proceedings.

Apologetic Messages Attributed to Newell

In an excerpt TMZ attributes to Newell, the sender calls Doe 'an amazing person'. Another excerpt attributed to Newell reads: 'We've been shutting down any stories we've heard but again I'm so so sorry.' The excerpt did not identify which stories he meant.

The purported apology does not, on its own, establish an admission of sexual assault or explain precisely what the sender was apologising for.

Likewise, affectionate language in Doe's response does not independently establish that she consented to every act described in her later allegations.

Excerpt Attributed to Doe Refers to Clouded Memory

In the same exchange, an excerpt attributed to Doe reads, 'my memories super clouded too', according to TMZ. The published account also referred to the participants being drunk and high.

That acknowledgement is relevant to the context of the conversation. The early messages should not be treated as a comprehensive reconstruction of the encounter or a definitive statement about every participant's conduct.

Subsequent reporting on Cornell's investigation records described Doe struggling with rumours about the encounter and her understanding of what had happened.

CBS News reported that her account developed over the following weeks. Her later allegations of non-consensual activity therefore form part of the chronology, rather than being resolved by the earlier exchange.

Civil Lawsuit Names Seven Men

Doe filed a civil lawsuit on 16 September 2026 against Cornell, seven men and other defendants over the October 2024 encounter at the university's Chi Phi fraternity house.

The allegations are disputed. The New York Times reported on 2 October that all seven men denied wrongdoing. Four said they had consensual sexual contact with Doe, while the others denied participating.

None had been criminally charged in the reporting reviewed. The civil lawsuit is separate from both Cornell's disciplinary process and the criminal inquiry.

Cornell Expelled Newell and Ingalls

The Cornell Daily Sun reported on 5 October, citing university records obtained by The New York Times, that Cornell's disciplinary panel found Newell responsible for sexual assault and expelled him. Ingalls was also expelled.

The university reached different findings and imposed different sanctions concerning the seven men. The findings against Newell should not be presented as a finding that every allegation against every defendant was upheld.

University disciplinary decisions are not criminal convictions, but they are a substantive part of the case and cannot be reduced to the fact that proceedings took place.

Letitia James Oversees Criminal Investigation

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially declined to bring criminal charges and subsequently reopened the investigation.

On 1 October, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. Her office has authority to investigate and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions and present evidence to a grand jury.

The appointment does not establish that criminal charges will follow.

The published excerpts provide an account of an exchange attributed to Doe and Newell, subject to the limits of their verification. Their significance must be considered alongside the later allegations, the defendants' denials and Cornell's reported findings.