A federal court has ruled that Cornell student Patrick Dai will remain in custody following his detention hearing on Thursday.
Dai, 21, confessed to issuing violent antisemitic threats targeting Jewish students at the university on October 28 and 29. His arrest on October 31 led to charges of transmitting interstate communications with the intent to kill or harm.
During the hearing, the court weighed whether Dai could be released under any conditions. His public defender, Lisa Peebles, argued for his release, stating that Dai does not meet the criteria for denial of bail. In contrast, the prosecution contended that Dai poses both a flight risk and a suicidal risk, advocating for his continued detention without bail.
Judge Therese Wiley Dancks decided against granting Dai bail, opting to keep him in custody. Present in the courtroom, Dai’s mother, Bing Liu, expressed her intention to fight for her son’s release to ensure he receives the necessary mental health treatment
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].