DA Reopens Cornell Rape Case After Public Outcry Over Past Decision
District attorney reopens 2024 Cornell rape case as public outrage grows over no criminal charges. New investigation seeks justice for alleged assault.
POLICY WIRE — Ithaca, United States — A long-standing controversy surrounding a sexual assault allegation at Cornell University has resurfaced, prompting the Tompkins County District Attorney to revisit the case after years of inaction and mounting public pressure.
The incident, which occurred in October 2024, involved a student identified as Jane Doe who claims she was sexually assaulted and drugged by multiple fraternity members at the Chi Phi house on campus. Despite the allegations, no criminal charges were filed at the time, leading to widespread criticism and now a new probe initiated by prosecutors.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced the decision to reopen the investigation, citing community concerns over how the case was previously handled. He emphasized that the office is reviewing new evidence from a civil lawsuit, including testimony from Doe and details from a group chat that reportedly contained incriminating comments from fraternity members. However, he maintained that his office had not pursued criminal charges initially due to the lack of specific allegations about drug use or non-consensual acts in Doe’s original statement.
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Attorney Thomas P. Giuffra, representing Doe, criticized the initial response, claiming that her trauma prevented her from immediately reporting the incident. He argued that more thorough interviews could have uncovered additional evidence, but none were conducted beyond the initial police report. Meanwhile, one of the accused students’ lawyer denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit “morally repugnant” and asserting that his client had no further involvement beyond an inappropriate social media comment.
Cornell University stated it supported the DA’s decision to bring the case before a grand jury and defended its own disciplinary actions, including expulsions and suspensions of those involved. The university also denied claims that students were allowed to avoid consequences by writing essays, stating that the fraternity was permanently banned from campus in 2024. The lawsuit also accuses the university and other entities of negligence in protecting Doe during the incident.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
