NY Prosecutors Reopen Cornell University Rape Allegation Case

New York state prosecutors have announced they will reopen a criminal inquiry into an alleged rape at Cornell University in 2024. The decision comes after the woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit on September 16, alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple individuals at a fraternity house.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated Monday that once appropriate charges are determined, the case will be presented to a grand jury for prosecution. He added that his office initially concluded in 2024 that the evidence from the victim's statement to authorities did not meet the legal threshold to bring charges.

Van Houten said he has reached out to Jane Doe and her lawyers for more information as he prepares to bring the case before a grand jury. In the U.S. legal system, grand juries weigh evidence and testimony to decide whether criminal charges are warranted. Van Houten's office released a summary of Jane Doe's initial 2024 statement to Cornell University Police, noting it differed from the allegations in the civil lawsuit. According to Van Houten, her sworn statement did not allege she was drugged against her will or gang-raped, but rather described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual.

Jane Doe's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, stated that in the days following the assault, his client was traumatized and unable to fully process the event. Giuffra suggested that the district attorney's statements indicated a defensive posture and an attempt to excuse potential failures in the initial investigation. He also expressed surprise that his client was not interviewed multiple times and that evidence was not more thoroughly collected by law enforcement.

Cornell University responded to the allegations, stating that any suggestion of consequential punishments not being imposed is false. The university asserts that the matter was referred to a panel of faculty and staff who issued a range of sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions. Cornell denied that any individuals charged were offered essays as a sole consequence.

The civil lawsuit alleges that on the night of October 19, 2024, seven men from Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity chapter assaulted Jane Doe. The suit claims she was intoxicated and incapable of providing consent. It also includes an image purportedly from a fraternity group chat that alerted members to a potential sexual encounter with Jane Doe. The lawsuit further alleges that Cornell did not adequately protect her or punish the men involved.

In November 2024, Cornell University issued a statement acknowledging serious allegations of drug abuse and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house. At that time, the university announced its campus police were investigating, the local Chi Phi chapter was suspended, and a number of students faced sanctions. Cornell also initiated an internal investigation and a civil rights inquiry under Title IX.

An attorney for one of the men named in the lawsuit denied the allegations, though he acknowledged his client made an immature comment on Snapchat. This attorney stated his client was not involved in any sexual activity, did not touch the plaintiff, and did not ingest ketamine.

The case has gained national attention following the lawsuit and the announcement of the reopened criminal inquiry. Some public figures have spoken out about the allegations.