Ocasio-Cortez's Account of Cornell Sexual Assault Case Differs from Complaint, University

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has presented a detailed and graphic account of a sexual assault case at Cornell University that differs in key aspects from the civil complaint filed by the accuser and statements from the university.

During a town hall event in Ithaca, New York, Ocasio-Cortez stated that seven men allegedly drugged and gang-raped a 20-year-old woman for seven hours after luring her to a fraternity house. She further alleged that the fraternity was aware of the incident and that Cornell University expelled two individuals while making others write essays as punishment. "The culture of rape, sexual assault, and pedophilia is protected in elite institutions across the United States and including Cornell University in this instance. It has got to stop," she said.

Cornell University has disputed Ocasio-Cortez's characterization of its disciplinary actions, asserting that expulsions and suspensions were imposed and that no respondent was solely required to write an essay. The university stated that the civil complaint indicates some respondents were offered essay assignments as a way to mitigate their conduct.

The congresswoman's remarks come amid a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in October 2024. The 101-page complaint details allegations of Doe being pressured into taking ketamine and subjected to sexual acts without her consent after arriving at the Chi Phi fraternity house intoxicated. It also alleges that a fraternity member posted an explicit message about her in a group chat.

The Tompkins County District Attorney's office initially reviewed Doe's sworn statement in November 2024 and concluded that the facts did not support criminal charges under New York law. District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that Doe's statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual, and did not allege she was drugged against her will or gang-raped.

However, Van Houten announced that his office has reopened the investigation into the allegations and will reconsider pursuing criminal charges against the seven fraternity members named in the civil complaint. A senior prosecutor experienced in sex-crime cases is preparing the matter for presentation to a Tompkins County grand jury.

Attorneys for some of the accused students have denied the allegations, with one stating his client had no sexual contact with Doe. Cornell University has stated it supports the reopened investigation and reiterated that its own inquiry resulted in significant sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, and the closure of the Chi Phi chapter. "Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false," a university spokesperson said.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case.