Following a civil lawsuit filed by a former student known as Jane Doe, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee an investigation into alleged sexual assault and fraternity misconduct at Cornell University.
The case centers on an alleged incident on October 19, 2024, at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York. A former student, identified in court records as Jane Doe, filed a civil complaint naming Cornell University, her former sorority chapter, the fraternity, and seven individual fraternity members: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar.
The lawsuit details allegations that the 20-year-old student was given substances described as ketamine, alcohol, and marijuana before being sexually assaulted over several hours. Court documents unsealed in New York state court reveal that Cornell University previously conducted an internal disciplinary investigation involving more than 50 interviews with 32 witnesses.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed the allegations, describing how seven men allegedly lured the 20-year-old into a fraternity house, drugged her with ketamine, and posted in a group chat while she was incapacitated. Former “South Park” writer Toby Morton also created a website, TheCornell7.org, to expose the seven fraternity brothers and warned in statements that accountability is coming for those in the institution who gave them a break.
Governor Hochul Removes Tompkins County District Attorney
Public scrutiny intensified after disclosures regarding the initial handling of the case by local law enforcement. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to bring criminal charges in late 2024 after reviewing the initial police statement.
Van Houten maintained that the initial sworn statement provided in November 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped. He also mentioned that his office lacked access to a transcript detailing her interview with campus police prior to concluding that charges would not be filed. However, subsequent disclosures—including excerpts from police interviews published by CBS New York indicating the student stated she felt like bait and asserted she could say with 100% confidence she was raped—prompted mounting pressure from officials and the public.
Citing newly released information that raised serious questions about the initial investigation by campus police and the district attorney’s office, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul removed Van Houten from the matter. Hochul signed an executive order appointing the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James to direct the investigation independently.
Student Journalists Criticize Cornell Disciplinary Procedures
The university’s internal response has drawn sharp criticism from student journalists and advocacy groups. Sophia Dasser, editor-in-chief of The Cornell Daily Sun, noted that campus reporting brought light to how the administration addressed the fallout. Reporting on the case for months, senior editor Cereese Qusba ultimately broke the news regarding the lawsuit on September 18. The student newspaper’s editorial board published a piece titled Cornell Won’t, We Will,
criticizing university procedures and highlighting concerns over sexual misconduct being treated as an educational problem involving essays, workshops, and lectures.
While the Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus, the civil complaint alleges that students who received temporary suspensions were offered opportunities to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays. Cornell University rejected characterizations that penalties were minimal, noting that suspensions and expulsions were handed down and emphasizing that no individual was allowed to satisfy disciplinary requirements solely through an essay.
Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false.
Cornell University, via Nypost
Amid demonstrations and forums held on the Ivy League campus, Cornell agreed to bring in outside lawyers to conduct an independent review of its initial response to the allegations.
Legislative Push to Close New York Consent Loopholes
The case has renewed legislative efforts in Albany regarding New York’s laws on intoxication and sexual assault consent. Survivors, advocates, and lawmakers gathered in the Bronx to urge the passage of Bill 101, sponsored by New York Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz.
Supporters stated the measure would remove current statutory limits on prosecuting sexual assault cases where a victim voluntarily consumed alcohol or drugs. Assembly Member Dinowitz noted that while there will be prosecutions, a whole group of people do not even have a chance under current rules. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark emphasized the necessity of legislative action during the gathering alongside advocates including Leana Pardo, executive director of the North Brooklyn Coalition and a 2020 rape survivor.
Advocates noted that similar provisions exist in 18 other states, and lawmakers expressed hope that the measure could be enacted in January.
