Prosecutors in New York have reopened a criminal investigation into an alleged sexual assault at Cornell University in 2024. The investigation follows a civil lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe. In October 2024, several men allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her at a Cornell fraternity house.
According to the lawsuit, the incident happened at the Chi Phi fraternity house on 19 October. Jane Doe said she was heavily intoxicated and unable to consent. She also alleged that ketamine was involved.
She reported the incident to Cornell University Police in November 2024. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office had previously decided not to bring criminal charges. At the time, prosecutors said the evidence did not meet the legal standard required for charges.
Van Houten has now announced that he will present the case to a grand jury. Prosecutors are reviewing additional information provided by Jane Doe and her lawyers. However, the district attorney said her original statement to police was different from the allegations in the new lawsuit. He said her 2024 statement described drug use and sexual activity as voluntary and consensual. Her lawyer disputes the significance of the original statement, saying she was traumatized after the alleged assault and was struggling to process what had happened.
Cornell University has also rejected claims that it failed to take action. The university said it investigated the allegations and referred the matter to a panel of trained staff and faculty. Cornell said the disciplinary process resulted in several sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions. It also said the university’s Chi Phi chapter remains banned from campus.
One lawyer representing a man named in the lawsuit has denied the allegations against his client. He said his client made an inappropriate Snapchat comment but did not participate in any sexual activity or touch Jane Doe.
The case has attracted attention across the US. Some public figures and Cornell students have also called for greater transparency. The student newspaper, Cornell Daily Sun, has urged an independent review of how the university handled the case. A 2025 Cornell survey found that 35% of undergraduate women and 8% of undergraduate men reported experiencing sexual assault during their time at the university. The report said sexual assault rates remain a serious concern despite previous efforts to address the issue.
