Prosecutors in Tompkins County, New York announced they will reopen a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual assault at Cornell University. A woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit earlier in September alleging that seven members of the university’s Chi Phi fraternity chapter assaulted her during an incident that allegedly occurred in October 2024.
According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe was intoxicated and allegedly given the drug ketamine during the incident, rendering her unable to consent. She reported the alleged assault to Cornell University Police in November 2024. The lawsuit includes a screenshot of a message from a fraternity group chat discussing a potential sexual encounter with the woman using vulgar language.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that when his office initially reviewed the case two years prior, the evidence from Jane Doe’s statement to authorities did not meet the legal standard required to bring charges. He noted that her original November 2024 statement to police characterized her drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary and consensual, which differed from allegations in her recent civil lawsuit. Van Houten indicated he would now present the case to a grand jury, which will evaluate evidence and testimony to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
Jane Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, stated that immediately following the alleged assault, his client was traumatized and unable to fully process what occurred. He argued that law enforcement should have conducted a more thorough investigation, including multiple interviews and evidence collection. In her civil case against the university, Jane Doe also alleged that Cornell failed to adequately protect her and that those involved received minimal consequences, such as being allowed to submit essays as a disciplinary measure.
Cornell University responded by denying that it inadequately investigated or punished those involved, stating that a trained panel issued sanctions including expulsions and suspensions. The university noted that none of those charged were offered essay-writing as their sole consequence. The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity remains suspended from campus. An initial hearing in the civil case is scheduled for October.
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