New York state prosecutors said Monday they would reopen a criminal inquiry into an alleged rape that took place at Cornell University in 2024. The move follows a civil lawsuit filed by a woman, referred to in court documents as Jane Doe, who claims she was drugged with ketamine and gang‑raped by seven men from the university’s Chi Phi fraternity chapter on the night of 19 October 2024.
Jane Doe filed the lawsuit on 16 September, alleging she was intoxicated, unable to give consent, and that the incident was reported to Cornell University Police on 8 November. The suit also included a Snapchat group chat image in which a participant warned other members of a potential sexual encounter with the plaintiff.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the case would be prosecuted through a grand jury once charges are determined. He noted that in 2022 his office had found the evidence from Doe’s initial statement insufficient to bring charges, but that new information has prompted a review. Van Houten also highlighted that Doe’s sworn statement in November described her participation as voluntary, contrasting with the allegations in the lawsuit.
Cornell University said it supported the grand‑jury process and denied that it had failed to punish those involved. The university announced in November that it had suspended the Chi Phi chapter, opened a Title IX investigation, and imposed sanctions including expulsions and suspensions. It rejected the claim that any accused were allowed to mitigate conduct by writing essays.
Doe’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, said the victim was traumatized and had not spoken to anyone beyond the officer who took her initial complaint. He criticized the DA’s stance as an attempt to excuse investigative failures. The case has drawn national attention, with celebrities and lawmakers such as Florence Pugh and Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez voicing support for the victim.
As the investigation proceeds, observers will watch how the grand jury weighs the new evidence and whether criminal charges are ultimately filed against the accused fraternity members.
