'It Got Way Out of Hand': Cornell 7 Texts Reveal Jonathan Newell's Apology After Alleged Assault

The newly publicised messages show Newell expressing regret after the fraternity incident

Text messages attributed to Cornell University student Jonathan Newell show him apologising to a woman who later accused him and six other fraternity members of sexual assault. In the exchange, he said events had got 'way out of hand'.

The conversation, dated 21 October 2024 and published by TMZ, shows Jane Doe initially defending parts of the encounter before later alleging that most of what happened was non-consensual. The messages have intensified debate over the disputed incident at Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity house.

Jonathan Newell's Apology in Disputed Texts

'I just wanted to apologise for how things went down the other night,' Newell wrote, according to screenshots obtained by TMZ. He said his memory was 'kinda fuzzy' and that he and another student, identified as Matt, regretted being too intoxicated to stop others entering the room before the situation 'got way out of hand'.

🚨 A new set of texts has surfaced in the Cornell case. Two days after the alleged encounter, Jane Doe reportedly told one of the men she later accused that she appreciated his apology. She wrote that everyone was “super out of it,” but also said, “none of the s*xual stuff was illegal,” and that “our body, our choice” meant they should not feel ashamed. In another message, she said the other people involved should have left.Wow. 😮h/t @TMZ
— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) October 8, 2026

Newell also called Doe 'an amazing person', said he hoped she was not facing as much gossip as the men, and claimed they had been trying to stop stories spreading. The messages relate to an alleged assault on 19–20 October 2024.

Doe's civil lawsuit, filed in September 2026, accuses seven Chi Phi members of sexually assaulting her while she was impaired by alcohol and ketamine. The fraternity members named in the lawsuit deny the allegations.

Jane Doe's Initial Reply and Later Consent Allegations

Doe thanked Newell and wrote that her memories were 'super clouded too'. She described everyone as drunk and high, said she had enjoyed being with Newell and Matt, and stated that none of the sexual activity was illegal. Referring to the encounter as a 'gangbang', she added, 'Our body is our choice asf'.

Those comments have circulated online, with some users arguing they contradict the lawsuit. Others pointed to her references to impaired memory and argued that consenting to some activity does not establish consent to everything that followed.

Further messages reportedly show a different account emerging by 3 November. Doe wrote that '90% of what happened that night was not consensual', alleged she had been given more ketamine than she could remember, and said she had expressed discomfort. Newell responded that he could not remember certain details and said he would have stopped other men entering had he been more aware of what was happening.

Doe's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, has described her earlier messages as part of her attempt to process the experience. He previously confirmed that an exchange occurred but questioned whether every published screenshot could be authenticated.

Investigation Reopened as Civil Lawsuit Continues

According to reports, Cornell's internal Title IX investigation found Newell responsible for sexual assault, leading to his expulsion alongside fellow Chi Phi member Matthew Ingalls. Other members named in the complaint received disciplinary sanctions.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office initially declined prosecution based on Doe's 2024 sworn account, which described participation as voluntary. He subsequently reopened the investigation following the lawsuit.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul later appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. However, no criminal charges have been filed against the seven men yet. Cornell has commissioned former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to review its handling of the allegations.