New Reports Question Cornell's Handling of 2024 Gang Rape Allegations

New reporting reveals that Cornell police omitted key details when providing information to local law enforcement regarding a 2024 gang rape allegation. Among the left-out details was a statement from the victim expressing absolute certainty that she was assaulted.

The case has generated national attention after the student, referred to as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit against the university and others. She alleged that she was given alcohol and pressured into taking ketamine before being sexually assaulted by multiple individuals at a Chi Phi fraternity house party.

While criminal charges were never filed, Cornell stated that it conducted an internal investigation resulting in disciplinary actions, including expulsions, suspensions, and the banning of the Chi Phi chapter. A special meeting of the Cornell Student Assembly was recently held to address community anger over the handling of the case.

According to reporting based on over 1,000 pages of internal documents, transcripts show that the district attorney received only a six-page summary rather than the full investigative file. Lawyers representing at least three of the accused men have denied any criminal wrongdoing, while the district attorney noted that the initial summary and state laws regarding voluntary intoxication presented a high bar for criminal charges.