Cornell junior Patrick Dai appears in court, accused of online death threats to Jewish students

A Cornell University student charged after allegedly posting death threats against the school's Jewish community on a campus-related social media site was ordered held in jail Wednesday during a federal court appearance in Syracuse.

Patrick Dai, 21, who is from upstate Pittsford, was arrested and charged Tuesday with "posing threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications," federal prosecutors said in a news release. In other posts, he allegedly threatened to stab "Jewish males" at the school and bring an assault rifle to campus. Prosecutors also allege he posted threats against Jewish females and babies.

An FBI agent said in court papers that Dai admitted writing the threatening posts.

Dai, a junior engineering student at Cornell, appeared in court Wednesday in an orange jumpsuit handcuffed at the waist. He was represented by federal public defender Gabrielle DiBella. His mother and a family friend sat in the courtroom gallery.

Geoffrey Brown, an assistant U.S. attorney, asked that Dai be held in jail without bail, saying he is a danger to others and a flight risk. Dai waived his right to a timely bail hearing, and the judge ordered him to remain in jail. He has been held at the Broome County jail since his arrest. 

Dai's next court date is scheduled for Nov. 15. He faces a maximum five-year prison term, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

His arrest Tuesday came a day after Gov. Kathy Hochul visited with members of Cornell's Jewish community, telling those gathered inside the Center for Jewish Living that the state was "backing them" with increased law enforcement after a spate of threatening messages on social media.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Dai threatened in a post to "shoot up 104 West," a reference to a Cornell University dining hall catering to kosher diets and located next to the Jewish community center.

The Biden Administration on Monday outlined ways it was addressing rising antisemitism on college campuses since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that led to Israel's response — a declaration of war on Hamas and sustained military strikes into Gaza. The conflict has spurred protests against Israel on college campuses nationwide and a rise in antisemitic incidents. More Israelis and Palestinians have been killed than in any of the four previous wars dating to late 2008. More than 8,520 people have died in Gaza and 125 in the West Bank. 

Since the Hamas attack, the Anti-Defamation League has reported a 388% increase over the same period last year in antisemitic incidents across the U.S. such as harassment, vandalism and assault.

Long Island has seen an uptick as well. Overnight Sunday into Monday East Hampton police said large swastikas and antisemitic graffiti were discovered at Ditch Plains Beach and the downtown business district in Montauk. Police are investigating what East Hampton Town Police Capt. Chris Anderson said roughly a half-dozen swastikas and slurs were spray-painted on fences, picnic tables and signs.

Joel M. Malina, vice president for university relations at Cornell University, said the school was grateful for the quick work of the FBI.

“We remain shocked by and condemn these horrific, antisemitic threats and believe they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Malina said in a statement. “We know that our campus community will continue to support one another in the days ahead.”

With AP and Tribune News Service