Patrick Dai, a Cornell University student arrested last year for making antisemitic threats online, is set to be sentenced on Monday in Syracuse.
The case has drawn attention to Dai’s mental health, as both prosecutors and defense attorneys acknowledge his struggles, including a recent autism diagnosis.
Dai, 21, made threats against Jewish students, which he claimed were a misguided effort to provoke backlash against Hamas following its attack on Israel. Federal prosecutors argue that despite his mental health issues, Dai’s actions caused significant disruption on campus and warrant a serious sentence.
Dai has pleaded guilty to posting threats using interstate communications, a felony charge that could lead to a sentence of up to two years if the offense is deemed a hate crime.
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