Earlier this month, I wrote a column urging the public not to rush to judgment against the seven men accused of sexual assault at Cornell University.
The case resurfaced in September when a woman identified in court papers as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit against the seven men she alleges raped her, as well as Cornell and others she says failed to protect her. Politicians, celebrities and social media influencers weighed in, many treating the allegations as established fact.
I expected some pushback, given the sensitivity of the topic. But I wasn't prepared for the personal attacks that flooded my inbox, including threats.
Here’s a sampling from the hundreds of angry messages I received. Most are too vulgar to print. Many accused me of betraying
women simply for questioning Jane Doe’s allegations.
I was called a “rape apologist,” “evil,” “disgusting,” “a disgrace to women,” “ugly,” “a misogynist” and “human garbage.” And those are the nice ones. Others hoped I’d get raped, or worse.
Mob justice isn't real justice. This kind of abuse could make others think twice before raising legitimate questions about sexual assault allegations. Because who wants to put up with this kind of abuse?
The hate mail after my Cornell column was meant to bully me into silence
If defending due process draws this kind of abuse, I worry that others will simply keep quiet. And that doesn't help anyone, including alleged victims.
The people who sent these messages had no interest in engaging with my argument. I doubt most even read past the headline.
They wanted to bully me into silence.
Some of Jane Doe's supporters claim to stand for women, but apparently that doesn't include women who disagree with them.
And some seem to have already convicted the seven accused men in the court of public opinion, even though none has been criminally charged and should be presumed innocent.
The Cornell uproar shows why we have due process
The strong emotions surrounding sexual assault allegations like those at Cornell show why due process is so important.
I heard from numerous women who shared their own stories of sexual assault, including on college campuses. Understandably, Jane Doe's allegations hit home for them. Many other women have been sharing their stories.
My heart goes out to these women. But their experiences don't tell us what happened to Jane Doe. That's what the investigations and legal proceedings are meant to establish.
Cornell has already disciplined the seven men, with penalties including suspension and expulsion, following a Title IX sexual misconduct investigation last year. A civil lawsuit and criminal investigation are now underway.
Due process is a bedrock principle of our justice system, protecting men and women alike. We must be free to question evidence and challenge accusations. How else can we ever hope to find the truth?
And no amount of hate mail from the mob will stop me from defending that principle.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I urged due process in Cornell case. Then came the threats | Opinion
