US prosecutors reopen Cornell gang rape case after outcry

US prosecutors have reopened an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University after the victim filed a civil lawsuit alleging the school failed to properly punish the perpetrators. According to the civil lawsuit, the victim was drugged with ketamine, sexually assaulted, and raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024.

Cornell closed the fraternity and temporarily suspended the students involved, with several later expelled. District Attorney Matthew Van Houten of Tompkins County, New York, plans to file criminal charges against the seven men, citing the victim's recent allegations as a reason to reconsider the case. The university has acknowledged the decision to reopen the investigation, rejecting claims that the suspects were offered the opportunity to write essays to mitigate their conduct.

The civil lawsuit, which seeks damages from Cornell and the seven suspects, alleges severe emotional and psychological distress suffered by the victim. Celebrities and politicians have expressed outrage over the case, with British actress Florence Pugh and Democratic lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemning the university's handling of sexual assault incidents on its campus.