US prosecutors reopen 2024 Cornell University rape probe

Public prosecutors in New York have announced the reopening of a criminal investigation into the alleged gang rape of a female student at Cornell University in 2024. The decision follows a civil lawsuit filed by the woman, who accused the university of failing to adequately penalize seven male fraternity members she says drugged and assaulted her.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten confirmed on September 28, 2026, that his office intends to present the case to a grand jury to consider criminal charges against the men. The announcement comes after new details in a 101-page civil complaint sparked renewed national debate in the United States over sexual violence at elite universities.

Civil lawsuit and details of the allegations

The civil lawsuit was filed on September 16, 2026, in New York state court by a former student identified as Jane Doe. According to court filings, the alleged assault occurred on October 19, 2024, at the Xi chapter house of the Chi Phi fraternity on Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York.

In her complaint, the woman states that she was administered alcohol and ketamine without her consent, leaving her incapacitated. She alleges that seven fraternity members subsequently assaulted her. The lawsuit includes a screenshot from a Snapchat group chat in which a member used vulgar terms to alert others to a potential sexual encounter with the plaintiff.

Lawyers representing one of the men named in the filing acknowledged that their client posted an “immature comment” in the chat message. However, defense attorney Jeremy Saland denied all allegations against his client, stating that the student did not participate in any sexual activity, touch the plaintiff, or consume ketamine.

The civil action names both Cornell University and the seven fraternity members, seeking monetary damages for physical injuries and psychological distress. An initial court hearing for the civil suit is set for October 23, 2026, in Manhattan.

Prosecutorial decision and legal dispute

District Attorney Van Houten explained that local authorities originally chose not to bring criminal charges after the woman reported the incident on November 8, 2024. He stated that her initial statement to campus police described her participation as consensual, meaning the evidence at the time did not satisfy the legal threshold for prosecution.

Addressing the decision to revisit the case, Van Houten noted that “it can take years of therapy and healing” for sexual assault survivors to process what occurred. He stated that his office reached out to the victim’s legal team to gather further information before presenting evidence to a grand jury.

Thomas Giuffra, an attorney for the plaintiff, pushed back against the district attorney’s account. Giuffra stated that his client was traumatized immediately after the event and was operating in “self-preservation mode.” He criticized law enforcement for failing to conduct follow-up interviews or gather further evidence in 2024, arguing that prosecutors were attempting to excuse earlier investigative oversights.

University response and public reaction

Cornell University stated that it supports bringing the case before a grand jury, while strongly rejecting claims that it failed to punish those involved. The university denied allegations from the lawsuit that the accused students were permitted to submit essays as a primary sanction for their actions.

According to university officials, an internal disciplinary panel of trained faculty and staff reviewed the matter under federal Title IX rules and imposed sanctions that included suspensions and expulsions. Cornell temporarily suspended the local Chi Phi chapter in late 2024, and the fraternity remains banned from operating on campus.

The case has drawn widespread political and public commentary. US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the handling of the case and alleged a broader institutional failure to protect survivors, while British actor Florence Pugh publicly expressed anger over university responses to campus sexual assault.

Background

Fraternities in the United States are male social organizations that frequently host events and operate private housing near university campuses. Sexual misconduct allegations at US universities are evaluated under both local criminal law and Title IX, a federal law requiring institutions receiving federal funds to prevent sex-based discrimination. University administrative reviews operate independently from criminal law enforcement and can result in campus bans, suspensions, or expulsions.