New York Prosecutors Reopen Investigation into 2024 Cornell Fraternity Assault Allegations

Authorities in New York have started looking again at a 2024 case involving allegations of sexual assault at Cornell University. The case was reopened after the woman involved filed a civil lawsuit this month, accusing several fraternity members of drugging and assaulting her during an incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office is reviewing the case to see if criminal charges should be brought. He plans to present the matter to a grand jury with the cooperation of the woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court papers. However, no charges have been filed yet.

The original police report from 2024 did not include claims that the woman was drugged without her consent or forced into sexual acts. Van Houten explained that the statement at the time described voluntary drug and alcohol use and consensual sexual activity. Because of this, prosecutors did not press charges back then. He also said the office had not been contacted by the woman’s lawyers until after the civil lawsuit was filed.

Jane Doe’s attorney disagrees with the prosecutor’s account, saying she was never properly interviewed by specialised investigators and that important evidence, like a group chat from the fraternity, was provided but not fully investigated.

Cornell University said it conducted a separate internal investigation under Title IX rules, which led to expulsions and suspensions of some fraternity members. The university also confirmed the Chi Phi chapter remains banned from campus.

The civil lawsuit names seven men and several organisations, including Cornell and the fraternity. It alleges the woman was drugged and sexually assaulted over several hours in October 2024. None of the accused have faced criminal charges so far.