The alleged author of the “free p***y” Snapchat message at the heart of the Cornell 7 scandal has been barred from another college campus, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.
Jonathan Newell was reportedly one of two fraternity members expelled by Cornell University after administrators imposed sanctions linked to an alleged 2024 incident in which seven male students are accused of drugging and gang-raping a female student at their fraternity house.
The 21-year-old enrolled at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earlier this year, apparently seeking to continue his education and leave the controversy behind.
That effort was disrupted last month when a civil lawsuit filed by a Jane Doe brought the explosive sexual-assault allegations into the national spotlight.
Newell is accused of being among the first men to sexually assault Doe at the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024. The civil complaint also identifies him as the alleged author of a disturbing message posted in the fraternity’s Snapchat group: “Free p***y in alum pu.”
The Daily Mail understands that Newell, who has never been criminally charged, was ordered to stay off NSU property last week following a flood of complaints from concerned parents.
NSU President Harry Moon confirmed Monday morning that the university had taken steps to “safeguard” students, though he did not identify Newell.
“We are all concerned about reports of serious allegations of sexual abuse that occurred approximately two years ago at another university and may involve a student who later transferred to NSU,” Moon wrote.
“NSU takes these allegations seriously. The safety and well-being of each member of our campus community is a top priority.”
Jonathan Newell, pictured holding a plaque bearing his last name as a high school student, has been barred from another college campus, the Daily Mail has learned
The 21-year-old quietly enrolled at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earlier this year after reportedly being expelled from Cornell University
Moon did not name Newell or clarify whether the undisclosed safeguarding measures were temporary or permanent.
He told students, faculty and staff that the private university had not been aware of the allegations involving Doe when Newell enrolled.
The lawsuit alleges that Doe was given ketamine before being subjected to nonconsensual group sex with Newell and six other men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York.
“Once we learned of the reported incident, we acted immediately on behalf of the safety and well-being of our students and the NSU community,” Moon’s statement continued.
“Because this matter involves federal law regarding an individual student, the university is legally restricted by federal regulations that limit what the university can share.
“The university continues to monitor the situation and will remain vigilant. As a result of actions we have taken, we are not aware of any current threat to the university community with regard to the matter.”
The statement appeared to reassure parents of female students at NSU.
“It was obviously concerning. It’s a horrific crime that this young man is accused of,” one mother told the Daily Mail, speaking anonymously.
Newell is accused of sending the now-infamous Snapchat message—featured in Jane Doe’s civil complaint—to a group chat with more than 50 fraternity brothers. It read: “Free p****”
One man involved in the Snapchat group had allegedly asked ‘Shop still open?’ shortly after a photograph of Jane Doe was shared in the messages, according to a screenshot filed in the civil complaint
‘You trust that they’re in a safe environment when you send them off to school and that they can navigate the things that you’ve prepared them for. But you can’t prepare your kids for this.’
Newell grew up in South Florida and attended NSU University School, a private prep school on the NSU campus where tuition costs around $40,000 a year.
His mom is a respected pediatrics doctor and assistant professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Newell’s father is a chief estimator at a construction firm.
They live in a $2.5 million home in an exclusive gated community in South Florida and drive swish BMW cars.
Newell was bookish and quiet growing up, according to a former classmate.
He played varsity lacrosse and picked up multiple awards before graduating in 2023 and enrolling at Cornell.
‘Jonathan was good at his studies, I would assume he was on the honor roll,’ the former friend said. ‘He was just this quiet kid. No drugs, no girls, no scandal of any sort.
Cornell’s Chi Phi chapter was shut down in 2024 following the allegations and remains barred from campus
Newell, who grew up in South Florida, is accused of being one of the first men to sexually assault Jane Doe, who was 20 years old at the time, on October 19, 2024
‘I remember being in shock when I heard he was the social chair of his fraternity at Cornell because he wasn’t outgoing at all.
‘Now I’m like, what did college do to him? What did fraternity life do to him?’
According to the civil complaint, Newell and fellow Chi Phi member Matthew Ingalls pressured Doe to consume ketamine, marijuana and ‘Jamaican liquor’ believed to be high-proof rum before allegedly engaging in sexual acts without her consent.
At one point Newell ordered Doe, who was 20 years old at the time, to snort a line of ketamine off his genitals, according to the suit.
Newell, who the suit claims is one of two men who forced vaginal sex on Doe, allegedly slapped her repeatedly during intercourse, leaving bruises on her buttocks, and he continued groping her after she pushed his hand away, according to the complaint.
The suit alleges that the Snapchat message sent by Newell was an invitation for other fraternity members to come upstairs where Doe says the sexual assault continued for hours.
The college student was described as ‘quiet’ and bookish by former classmates before graduating in 2023 and attending Cornell. Credit: @uschool.seniors23/Instagram
Newell has never been criminally charged and has not publicly responded to the allegations.
But Cornell’s formal Title IX investigation, which included more than 50 interviews, resulted in him being expelled from the storied university, according to The New York Times.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s office declined to bring criminal charges after investigating the case in 2024, however.
The account Doe gave investigators at the time is said to have differed substantially from the allegations in her civil suit filed nearly two years later.
The original statement described her participation in drug use and sexual activity as voluntary and consensual, Van Houten has said.
‘If what was said on social media about this case was true, those fraternity members would be in prison right now,’ he told ABC News.
Doe’s attorney, Thomas P Giuffra, disputed the DA’s account of the investigation, alleging that his client’s claims were not investigated thoroughly enough as she ‘never spoke with anyone other than the officer who took her original complaint.’
‘I believe that opportunities to fully investigate these crimes were lost. We will never fully know what occurred or the identities of everyone who was involved that night,’ Giuffra said.
Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James last Thursday as a special prosecutor to conduct a fresh criminal investigation into the matter.
The incident allegedly took place in 2024, but the Tompkins County district attorney declined to prosecute. (Pictured: The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell)
New York Attorney General Letitia James, right, is now overseeing the criminal investigation after being appointed special prosecutor by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, left
James faced questions about a September 28 Facebook post in which she appeared to prejudge the allegations, writing: ‘What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable.’
Asked about the post at a news conference, the longtime Trump nemesis told a reporter: ‘I will not comment on a Facebook post.’
The defendants have consistently denied any wrongdoing. None have faced criminal charges.
It is not clear whether Newell has hired a lawyer. Neither he nor his father responded to calls and messages from the Daily Mail seeking comment.
Cornell said the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.