Authorities in New York have reopened a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving members of a Cornell University fraternity after a former student filed a civil lawsuit detailing an alleged attack in 2024. The case has drawn renewed attention because the allegations described in the lawsuit differ significantly from the account the woman gave to campus police at the time.
Prosecutors to Present Cornell Case to Grand Jury
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office plans to reexamine the allegations and present evidence to a grand jury. The decision follows renewed public scrutiny after the former Cornell student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit earlier this month.
The lawsuit alleges that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted the woman at the fraternity’s Cornell house in October 2024. According to the complaint, she had consumed alcohol and was pressured to use drugs before the alleged assault.
Van Houten said the allegations in the recent lawsuit are substantially different from the woman’s sworn statement provided in 2024. He said the earlier account did not allege that she had been drugged against her will or sexually assaulted by multiple people.
The district attorney has now assigned a senior prosecutor with experience handling sex-crime cases to review the evidence and prepare the matter for possible presentation to a grand jury.
Civil Lawsuit Brings New Details to Light
The lawsuit provides a detailed account of what the woman says happened inside the fraternity house. It alleges that she became severely intoxicated and incapacitated after consuming alcohol and drugs before several fraternity members entered the room.
The complaint also refers to communications among fraternity members that allegedly occurred during the night. The woman’s attorney has argued that these messages and other evidence should have prompted a more extensive criminal investigation when the allegations were initially reported.
The woman’s legal team has also questioned whether she received appropriate follow-up from investigators after making her original report to Cornell University Police.
Attorneys representing some of the accused students have denied the allegations. One defense attorney said his client did not sexually assault or touch the woman and maintained that the allegations were untrue. Another defendant has also denied participating in sexual activity or drug use connected with the incident.
Cornell Says Internal Investigation Led to Disciplinary Action
Cornell University said it conducted an internal investigation through its student conduct and civil rights processes. The university said the proceedings resulted in disciplinary measures, including suspensions and expulsions.
The university’s Chi Phi chapter was also barred from campus following the 2024 incident and remains prohibited from operating there.
Cornell has said it supports the district attorney’s decision to revisit the criminal investigation. The university has also emphasized that federal privacy requirements prevent it from publicly discussing individual students’ disciplinary records in detail.
The renewed criminal investigation will now focus on whether additional evidence or information can establish that criminal conduct occurred. The grand jury process could determine whether criminal charges should be pursued.
