Legacy Media Selectively Omitted Exculpatory 'Our Body Our Choice' Text in Cornell Jane Doe Coverage
Source: Brianna Lyman. "Legacy Media Reports Omit Jane Doe's 'Our Body Our Choice' Text." October 9, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author says that when the New York Times and CBS New York reported on a Cornell accuser's text messages, they quoted parts that were somewhat helpful to the accused men but left out lines like 'our body our choice,' which make her rape claim look weaker. The author argues this was deliberate, selective editing that misled readers.
Conclusion
The New York Times and CBS New York misleadingly reported on the Cornell Jane Doe case by omitting portions of her text message that undermine her claim of involuntary participation, which reflects biased and selective reporting.
Premises
- According to screenshots published by TMZ, Jane Doe's full Oct. 21 text to Jonathan Newell called the encounter a 'gangbang,' said 'our body our choice asf,' and said that anything anyone says about it is 'out of their jurisdiction.'
- The New York Times and CBS New York both quoted from the same text, including her statements that 'none of the sexual stuff was illegal' and that she 'really liked being w u and matt.'
- Both outlets left out the 'gangbang' description and the 'our body our choice' line, and the Times ended its quote at '...u and matt' in a way readers could take as the end of the message.
- The omitted language is material because it casts further doubt on Doe's claim that her participation was involuntary.
- CBS New York said its reporter reviewed the full exchange and that its editorial decisions reflected that review, so the omission was a choice rather than an oversight; the Times did not respond to questions.
Assumptions
- The TMZ-published screenshots are authentic and accurately represent the full text message
- The omitted phrases are exculpatory and materially relevant to the question of consent, rather than ambiguous or consistent with a later claim of assault
- Excluding relevant, potentially exculpatory content from a quoted message is a journalistic failure or evidence of bias, not a legitimate editorial or space decision
- The outlets' selective quotation was driven by ideological or narrative motives rather than editorial judgment, context, or legal caution
- A text sent days after an encounter, while intoxicated and facing social pressure, is reliable evidence about consent at the time of the encounter
- Readers of the Times and CBS stories would form a materially different impression if given the full text