A Stanford-educated venture capitalist is denying charges of rape levied against him by a recent graduate, who he had mentored and dated while on campus.
Joe Lonsdale, who graduated from Stanford in 2003 before co-founding Palantir and venture capital fund Formation 8, was sued Jan. 27 by Elise Clougherty, according to the Stanford Daily.
The on-campus newspaper reports that Clougherty, a 24-year-old former model who graduated from the school in 2013, was allegedly raped and abused over a period of time by Lonsdale, according to her lawsuit.
Londsale hit back, saying that the allegations of sexual assault and gender violence are "a vengeful personal attack by a disturbed former girlfriend" who boasted of a "Joe take down scheme."
The pair first met in 2011 before breaking off sexual ties in 2013. She allegedly served as an intern for Lonsdale at his venture capital firm.
Lonsdale's actions were reported to Stanford, where he'd been serving as a mentor to some classes involving technology and entrepreneurship.
In response, the university banned him from campus for 10 years, according to the newspaper.
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Through his attorney, Lonsdale issued a categorical denial. He is also planning to file a counter suit alleging defamation, according to reports.
"The lawsuit is a vile collection of lies and a transparent attempt to destroy the reputation and good name of Joe Lonsdale," Lonsdale’s lawyer, Kristen Dumont, told publication TechCrunch.
