Cornell hires ex-Justice Dept official Yates to review rape claims response
Oct 6 (Reuters) - Cornell University has hired a top former US Justice Department lawyer for an internal investigation of how it handled a student's allegations that she was gang-raped, a case that has brought mounting scrutiny and triggered student protests at the Ivy League school.
Cornell University has hired former US Justice Department lawyer Sally Yates to conduct an internal investigation into the school's handling of a student's allegations of gang rape, according to Reuters. The investigation will examine Cornell's response to the alleged sexual assault, which allegedly occurred during a fraternity party in October 2024.
The student, identified as Jane Doe in a lawsuit filed against Cornell and seven fraternity members, claims the university did not adequately investigate the incident and punish the involved fraternity members. Yates, now a partner at King & Spalding, will have "full independence" to conduct her review. The newly formed Special Committee of the Cornell University Board of Trustees confirmed her appointment.
Jane Doe's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, has not yet commented on the investigation. The university's president, Michael Kotlikoff, described the case as a "defining moment" and stated that the institution must improve its response to sexual violence. Jane Doe's lawsuit alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity chapter, which the university subsequently disbanded and disciplined. Local prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges against the accused fraternity members.
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