A New York prosecutor has reopened an investigation into gang rape allegations at a Cornell College fraternity in response to a lawsuit filed by a girl who says she was sexually assaulted in 2024 by seven college students after being plied with alcohol and medicines.
Tompkins County District Lawyer Matthew Van Houten stated Monday (Sep 28) that his workplace will current proof to a grand jury as he faces questions from the general public about why there have been no felony prosecutions within the case.
The girl, recognized solely by a pseudonym within the lawsuit, filed the grievance on Sep 16, saying she was sexually assaulted on the Chi Phi fraternity home on the Ivy League campus in October 2024 after being pressured into snorting ketamine, smoking marijuana and ingesting alcohol.
She turned fully incapacitated whereas frat members had been sexually assaulting her, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit, the reopening of the investigation and Cornell’s response have sparked a flood of commentary on social media.
Many individuals have criticised the varsity and the district lawyer’s workplace of their posts, whereas some have expressed doubt concerning the lawsuit’s allegations. Some posted photographs of the seven fraternity members.
The accuser is suing the boys, the Chi Phi fraternity, the college, an Ithaca bar and others, searching for undisclosed damages. Her lawyer didn’t instantly reply Monday to messages searching for touch upon the prosecutor’s choice.
The girl went to campus police on the time, however Van Houten stated the accuser didn’t make any claims of being gang-raped or drugged in her preliminary sworn assertion to authorities.
The prosecutor additionally stated he was by no means contacted by the lady’s lawyer about her assertion or about reconsidering the choice to not prosecute, however he reached out to the lawyer just lately.
“Searching for justice generally requires us to rethink or reopen instances once we are supplied with extra proof,” Van Houten stated in a press release.
“I’ve been requested by the neighborhood to revisit the choice whether or not to pursue felony expenses in opposition to the seven fraternity members. I’ve already begun that course of, beginning with our dialog with Jane Doe and her attorneys.”
