Cornell rape case reopened by New York prosecutors after new lawsuit

New York state prosecutors have reopened a criminal investigation into an alleged gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house, following immense public pressure and a newly filed civil lawsuit containing graphic allegations against seven fraternity members, as reported by Thestar. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten confirmed that his office will present the case to a grand jury for a potential indictment.

The case centres on an alleged incident on 19 October 2024, at the chapter house of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, according to Abcnews. The accuser, a former Cornell student who was 20 years old at the time and has filed suit under the pseudonym Jane Doe, asserts in her court filings that she was plied with alcohol and drugs—specifically ketamine—to the point of incapacity before being subjected to an hours-long assault by multiple men.

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Prosecutors reopen Cornell University gang rape case as new lawsuit reveals horrific details

Investigation reopened into alleged gang rape at Cornell University after student files lawsuit

According to Tag24, the lawsuit includes a screenshot of a Snapchat group message titled Chi Phi Activities in which a member advertised free p***y upstairs while the assault was underway, acting as an open invitation for other fraternity members to join in. The civil complaint, filed in Manhattan state court, seeks financial damages from Cornell University, the fraternity, an Ithaca bar, and seven individual defendants, as detailed by Courthouse News.

The reopening of the probe has triggered intense public scrutiny surrounding institutional responses to sexual assault. High-profile figures, including British actor Florence Pugh and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, publicly condemned what they termed a pervasive culture of rape and protection at elite universities, as reported by Pbs. Representative Ocasio-Cortez criticized the institution during a local forum, arguing that victims lose their education while perpetrators are shielded.

District Attorney Van Houten defended his office's previous inaction, explaining that prosecutors are bound by New York's strict legal standards regarding consent and voluntary intoxication. In a detailed statement, Van Houten noted that Jane Doe's initial sworn statement to campus police in November 2024 described her drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary and conscious, without alleging she was drugged against her will or gang-raped, according to CBS News. Van Houten stated that his office could not have based a 2024 prosecution on allegations that did not surface until the civil lawsuit was filed nearly two years later.

Legal representation for the plaintiff strongly disputed the adequacy of the initial investigation. Thomas Giuffra, attorney for Jane Doe, asserted that his client was never contacted by district attorney investigators or anyone specially trained in interviewing trauma survivors after her initial report to campus police. Giuffra maintained that the original police report was not materially different from the claims in the civil complaint and criticized authorities for failing to investigate the Snapchat evidence promptly.

Cornell University officials pushed back against allegations that the institution sheltered the perpetrators. Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations, stated that the university conducted a comprehensive Title IX investigation over several months, leading to a hearing before a panel of trained faculty and staff. Kimball confirmed that the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus, and that the panel issued severe sanctions including expulsions and suspensions. Cornell explicitly denied claims made in the lawsuit that the accused students were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement.

Defense attorneys for the accused students have strongly denied the allegations. Jeremy Saland, representing defendant one of the members, acknowledged that a crude Snapchat message was sent but argued his client had done nothing more than respond with an immature comment. Another defendant also denied engaging in sexual activity or drug use, though he acknowledged that he sent a message that was included in the complaint.

What happens next depends on the timeline set by prosecutors. District Attorney Van Houten announced his intention to meet with Jane Doe and her legal team to establish a rapport before presenting the case to a Tompkins County grand jury this fall, seeking indictments if supported by the evidence.