Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has reopened a criminal investigation into allegations of gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity. The move follows a September 16 lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by seven students at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The accuser claims she was pressured into consuming alcohol, ketamine, and marijuana before the assault.
Grand Jury Review Initiated in Chi Phi Case
Van Houten confirmed he will present evidence to a grand jury, aiming to address public questions regarding the initial decision not to file criminal charges.
Cornell Defends Internal Disciplinary Measures
Cornell University officials maintain they conducted an internal investigation into the 2024 incident. The process featured a multi-day hearing before a panel of trained faculty and staff, allowing both the complainant and the accused students to present testimony and evidence.
The university issued sanctions resulting in the expulsion and suspension of the students involved. The Ithaca chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity was shuttered in 2024 and is still barred from campus. University officials rejected claims that these disciplinary measures were minimal, characterizing such assertions as “irresponsible” and warning that they may discourage future survivors from reporting sexual assault.
Divergent Accounts Complicate Prosecution
The decision to revisit the case comes amid mounting community outrage and media coverage. Van Houten noted a critical discrepancy in the record: the woman’s initial sworn statement to campus police did not allege that she had been drugged or gang-raped.
The District Attorney also clarified that the woman’s legal counsel had not contacted his office to discuss evidence or request a reconsideration of the prosecution decision prior to the filing of the civil suit. That litigation, which seeks undisclosed damages, names the university, the Chi Phi fraternity, an Ithaca bar, and seven individual men as defendants.
Public Backlash and Office Response
The civil filing has triggered a large number of communication directed at the District Attorney’s office. Van Houten reported receiving numerous phone calls, emails, and voicemails from the public, some of which contained threats and insults. While the university has expressed support for the decision to reopen the case, the national chapter of Chi Phi has not returned requests for comment.
Case Background and Allegations
The lawsuit details a series of allegations regarding the October 2024 incident at the Chi Phi house. The complaint claims the woman was pressured into using ketamine, marijuana, and alcohol before the assault occurred. The suit also alleges the university failed to prevent the incident and cites a group chat among fraternity members as evidence.
Regarding the status of the accused, the local Chi Phi chapter remains barred from operating on the Cornell campus following the university’s internal investigation. District Attorney Van Houten continues to cite the initial lack of allegations regarding drugging or gang rape in the complainant’s original statement as the primary reason the investigation was previously closed without charges.