Prosecutor reopens Cornell University gang rape investigation after accuser files lawsuit

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on Monday that his office will present evidence to a grand jury, following a lawsuit filed by a woman alleging she was gang-raped at Cornell University in 2024. The accuser, known only as Jane Doe, claims she was sexually assaulted after being pressured to consume drugs at a Chi Phi fraternity house. She filed the lawsuit on September 16, seeking damages against the university, fraternity members, a bar, and others.

Van Houten stated that the decision to reopen the investigation was prompted by the community's demand for answers concerning the lack of criminal charges in the case. He emphasized that his office will carefully review the evidence and consider the merits of the lawsuit. Cornell University, for its part, has also responded to the allegations, supporting the reopening of the investigation and expressing regret over its handling of the situation.

The university conducted its own investigation, resulting in expulsions and suspensions for the fraternity members involved, and closed the Chi Phi chapter on campus.

The lawsuit alleges that the university failed to prevent the assaults and address sexual violence on campus adequately. It also includes a photo purportedly showing a group chat among the fraternity members discussing the events of the night. The accuser, a 20-year-old student, initially reported the incident to campus police but did not mention being drugged or gang-raped in her initial statement.