The apology appears to be a significant departure from the threats Dai is accused of making, which included plans to “shoot up” a dining hall catering to Jewish students and committing violence against Jewish students on campus.
Assistant US Attorney Geoffrey Brown said that Dai visited the campus dining facility he had threatened to shoot up in his posts online.
Patrick Dai’s Mother Speaks Out
In an exclusive interview, Patrick Dai’s mother, Bing Liu, 53, offered insights into her son’s mental state and revealed the existence of the online apology.
Liu explained that she believed her son’s mental state was a contributing factor to the threats he had made. And says her son has been depressed and is prescribed the anti-depressant Lexapro.
She indicated that the apology had been shared with Dai’s defense lawyers from the federal public defender’s office in Syracuse.
Lisa Peebles, the federal public defender for the Northern District of New York, declined to comment on the case against Dai. She has, however, requested a bail hearing for Dai, scheduled for Thursday.
Community Reaction
The threats Dai made sent shockwaves through the Cornell campus and the wider community. Given the rising incidents of antisemitism on college campuses and concerns about mass shootings, the allegations were met with deep concern.
