Tompkins County DA Reopens Cornell Fraternity Rape Case

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office is reopening the investigation into an alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity and intends to present the case to a grand jury, according to ABC News.

What did prosecutors say about reopening the case?

Van Houten told ABC News his office is "considering whether to bring criminal charges related to the incident" and plans to move forward "with Jane Doe's cooperation." He said the goal is to determine whether evidence exists now that was unavailable to investigators in November 2024 and that could change the outcome before a grand jury. Van Houten also noted that the allegations laid out in a recent civil complaint are "dramatically different" from the account the woman initially gave police.

Why didn't the Tompkins County DA charge anyone in 2024?

According to Van Houten, the woman's original statement to authorities did not allege she was drugged without her knowledge or that she was incapacitated. "She admits to taking drugs and alcohol voluntarily and with knowledge. She does not allege that she was forced to engage in any acts. She does not say that she was physically helpless or unconscious or incapacitated at any point during the time at the fraternity house," he said. Van Houten also acknowledged his office relied on an investigation conducted by Cornell University Police and did not independently investigate the allegations, a practice he said is common among upstate New York counties.

What does the civil lawsuit allege?

A former Cornell student filed a civil suit earlier this month alleging she was drugged, assaulted and gang raped by seven members of Chi Phi at Cornell in 2024. Cornell barred the fraternity's chapter from campus after the alleged incident, but no individual faced criminal charges at the time, per the DA's office.

What is Jane Doe's attorney disputing?

Thomas P. Giuffra, the woman's attorney, disputed Van Houten's characterization of her initial police statement and said authorities never properly followed up with his client.

"In my experience, speaking with an abuse survivor requires delicacy, understanding and specialized training. An average University Police officer would not have these skills," Giuffra said. "However, Ms. Doe was never contacted by anybody with those skills."

Giuffra also said his client's lawsuit includes a group chat in which fraternity members allegedly discuss the incident, calling it a "critical piece of evidence" that was provided to authorities in 2024. Van Houten said the messages were never given to his office.

What happens next in the case?

Van Houten said his office intends to present the matter to the Tompkins County grand jury, with the alleged victim's cooperation, to determine whether the newly surfaced material — including the group chat cited in the civil complaint — changes the assessment that led prosecutors to decline charges two years ago. No timeline for a grand jury presentation was given in the DA's statement to ABC News.

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