- Jane Doe alleges sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity.
- The university investigation found at least one of the men violated the school’s policy against sexual exploitation and sexual assault, and at least one respondent was found responsible for attempted sexual exploitation but not for sexual assault.
- The university investigation led to suspensions and expulsions for the accused students, the barring of the fraternity chapter from campus, and the launch of a sexual assault task force.
- Doe’s attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, said he didn’t believe the trove of details from the Title IX investigation were ever given to Cornell police, citing evidence of several crimes with excellent supporting evidence.
- Special prosecutor takes over the investigation as national outrage grows.
- The university investigation led to significant consequences, including suspensions and expulsions for the accused students, and the barring of the fraternity chapter from campus.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the Cornell University alleged gang rape case, expressing a loss of faith in the local district attorney's ability to conduct a fair investigation.6
Hochul stated, “New information has raised serious questions about how this case was handled”, emphasizing the need for thorough examination of the facts.
The alleged victim, referred to as Doe, first reported the incident to campus police in 2024, approximately three weeks after the alleged assault. However, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten indicated that his office did not pursue charges based on Doe's initial six-page statement, which omitted critical allegations.
Van Houten noted, “Multiple prosecutors and criminal investigators reviewed Jane Doe’s statement and correctly determined the alleged facts as set forth in the statement do not constitute a crime”.1
However, new evidence has surfaced, including a transcript from a November 2024 interview where Doe stated, “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped”.
Doe's attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, asserted that vital evidence from the Title IX investigation was never shared with the police, claiming it contained “evidence of several crimes being committed with excellent supporting evidence”.45
The university's internal investigation resulted in suspensions and expulsions of the accused students, alongside the establishment of a sexual assault task force.237
“Doe's attorney Thomas P. Giuffra claims the Title IX investigation's trove of details, including a transcript where Doe says 'I can say with 100% confidence I was raped,' was never shared with Cornell police. The university probe led to suspensions, expulsions, and a sexual assault task force.”
