An alleged Snapchat message sent during an hours-long sexual assault at Cornell University has put Johnathan Newell at the centre of renewed calls for him to be barred from medical school.
Newell is one of seven Chi Phi fraternity members named in a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted in October 2024.
The Message at the Centre of the Case
According to the lawsuit, the then-20-year-old woman had been drinking during a night out before going to the Chi Phi house in Ithaca. She alleges she was pressured to take ketamine and later became increasingly incapacitated.
The complaint claims Newell was among the men who sexually assaulted her. At around 1:42am, he allegedly sent a message to the fraternity's 'Chi Phi Actives' Snapchat group referring to the woman as 'free p****' and inviting others upstairs.
The lawsuit alleges more fraternity members subsequently entered the room and that the sexual assault continued for hours. The woman says she eventually lost consciousness at around 5:45am. She later reported the incident to Cornell University Police, according to the complaint.
The allegation has since fuelled intense online criticism. One commenter, Sam, wrote on X: 'He sent 'free p****' to invite the rest of the house upstairs. Now he wants to be a doctor. No medical school should let this man anywhere near a patient.'
Johnathan Newell, one of the Cornell 7 gang rapists is the one that sent the Snapchat message to the “Chi Phi Actives,” where the other 6 learned about the “free p*ssy.”
— LPC (@landpalestine) September 27, 2026
Never let this story die down and never stop calling it out.
He wants to be a Dr. No med school should… pic.twitter.com/BHKz39y2jK
The Cornell 7 Named in the Lawsuit
Newell is one of seven defendants identified in the civil complaint: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar.
The lawsuit also names Cornell University, Chi Phi-related organisations, Tri Delta-related entities and Moonies Bar & Nightclub, among others.
The plaintiff alleges Cornell's disciplinary response was inadequate, including a claim that some of the accused men were given an opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays. Cornell has not publicly confirmed individual disciplinary outcomes.
The university has said its relevant offices investigated and adjudicated the allegations under its policies, while the Chi Phi Xi chapter remains barred from campus.
Prosecutors Now Reopen the Investigation
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said investigators want to determine if additional evidence has emerged since November 2024 that could change their earlier assessment.
Van Houten said the allegations in the civil lawsuit are 'dramatically different' from the woman's original statement to investigators. Her lawyer, Thomas P. Giuffra, disputes that characterisation and says authorities failed to conduct a follow-up interview with someone specially trained to handle sexual-abuse allegations.
Calls Grow Over Newell's Medical Future
The renewed investigation has intensified scrutiny of what happens to the seven defendants' professional futures, particularly Newell because of claims that he wants to pursue medicine.
Online critics argue that allegations involving an incapacitated person should be considered when medical schools assess applicants. The argument centres on the trust placed in doctors, who can encounter patients who are unconscious, vulnerable or unable to advocate for themselves.
However, the legal status of the case remains important. The seven men are defendants in a civil lawsuit, not people convicted of the alleged offences. The reopening of the criminal investigation does not mean charges have been filed.
