Cornell gang-rape accuser was ‘misled’ about criminal investigation: Lawyer

The woman who accused multiple men of gang-raping her at a Cornell university fraternity party claims she was "misled" about the progress of the criminal investigation, her attorney stated. Despite going through Cornell's internal disciplinary process, the university's police department gave the impression that a criminal investigation was still ongoing, even though the prosecutor from Tompkins County decided not to proceed with the case shortly after the woman's initial statements to law enforcement.

The district attorney revealed he made this decision based on a six-page summary of the woman's account, which inadequately detailed key aspects of her allegations, including claims of physical violence and the use of vulgar language. The New York Times reported that a Cornell police investigator tried to convince the prosecutor's office to consider additional evidence, but their efforts were thwarted.

The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, alleges that Chi Phi fraternity members provided her with alcohol and drugs, leading to multiple sexual assaults. Some of the accused men deny the allegations, and the university's disciplinary process concluded in 2024. The woman's legal representative, Thomas Giuffra, expressed concern over the district attorney's plan to conduct a reopened investigation through a grand jury, citing the short timeline and lack of sufficient time for evidence review and witness interviews.