US prosecutor reopens Cornell fraternity sexual assault case after civil lawsuit
The prosecutor in Tompkins County, New York, will present allegations of a 2024 sexual assault at Cornell University to a grand jury. The decision follows a civil lawsuit filed by a former student against Cornell, seven current or former students and other defendants.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten told ABC News on Monday that his office was reopening its investigation to determine whether new evidence could support criminal charges. No criminal charges were brought after the initial investigation in 2024.
The plaintiff, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, alleges that seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her in October 2024. The allegations have not been proven in court.
According to CBS News New York, the lawsuit says Doe was 20 when she visited the Chi Phi house while intoxicated. She alleges two fraternity members pressured her to take a substance they described as ketamine before sexually assaulting her.
The complaint alleges that a message was then sent to a fraternity group chat, after which more men entered the room. Doe alleges that she was sexually assaulted over several hours and reported the incident to Cornell University Police about three weeks later.
Why prosecutors reopened the case
Van Houten said the allegations in the civil complaint were “dramatically different” from the statement Doe gave police in 2024. He said the earlier account did not allege that she was unknowingly drugged, forced or incapacitated.
Doe’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, disputed that account and criticised the handling of her report. He told ABC News that authorities did not arrange a follow-up interview with a detective or prosecutor trained to work with sexual assault complainants.
Van Houten acknowledged that his office relied on Cornell University Police’s investigation and did not conduct an independent inquiry. He also said his office had not received a fraternity group chat included in the civil complaint.
Giuffra said the messages were given to authorities in 2024 and were important evidence. Van Houten said prosecutors now intended to present the case to a grand jury with Doe’s cooperation.
Cornell defends its disciplinary process
Cornell said on Monday that it supported the district attorney’s decision to put the case before a grand jury. The university said its separate Title IX inquiry lasted several months and included a multi-day hearing before trained faculty and staff.
Cornell said the process resulted in sanctions that included expulsions and suspensions. It rejected claims that accused students received essays as the sole punishment for their involvement.
In an earlier statement on September 21, the university said its civil rights and student conduct offices had investigated the allegations under Cornell policies. It said the Xi chapter of Chi Phi remained barred from campus.
Cornell said federal privacy law prevented it from disclosing sanctions imposed on individual students. It also said a campus sexual assault task force, established after the incident, issued recommendations in March 2026.
Responses from defendants
An attorney for defendant Scott Kretzschmar denied the allegations and told ABC News that his client never sexually assaulted or touched Doe. Kretzschmar’s lawyer said the defence would challenge the claims in court.
Another defendant, Scott Norris, told ABC News that he did not participate in sexual activity or drug use. He acknowledged sending one of the messages cited in the complaint and said he briefly entered the room when no misconduct was occurring.
The civil lawsuit accuses Cornell and other defendants of negligence, breach of contract and violations of New York law, CBS News reported. Doe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, but the complaint does not specify an amount.
The claims will now proceed on two separate tracks. The grand jury will consider whether the evidence supports criminal charges, while the civil court will examine the lawsuit filed by Doe.
