Prosecutors reopen Cornell sexual-assault case after civil lawsuit
A New York prosecutor has reopened an investigation into allegations involving seven Cornell fraternity members after a woman filed a civil lawsuit claiming she was sexually assaulted while unconscious. Satirist Toby Morton has launched a website naming the accused, while the defendants’ allegations remain unproven.
A New York prosecutor has reopened an investigation into allegations involving seven Cornell University fraternity members after a civil lawsuit brought renewed public attention to the case. The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, alleges that she was sexually assaulted at a Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024 after being given drugs and alcohol. She also claims Cornell failed to protect her.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office was considering criminal charges and planned to present evidence to a grand jury. He said the allegations in the civil complaint differed significantly from the woman’s statement to police two years ago, which did not allege that she had been drugged without her knowledge or lacked consent. Cornell conducted an internal investigation, but no criminal charges were initially filed.
The fraternity chapter was barred from campus, and the woman later left the university, according to her attorney. Toby Morton, a writer for “South Park”, launched a website naming the seven accused men and publishing personal information. The allegations have prompted criticism from public figures, though the claims remain subject to legal proceedings and have not been established in court.
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