Tompkins DA Reopens 2024 Cornell Assault Case, Sends 7-Men Lawsuit to Grand Jury

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Sep 28

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said Monday he is reopening the 2024 Cornell fraternity assault case and asking a senior prosecutor to present it to a grand jury.
The move follows nationwide outrage and a civil lawsuit alleging seven Chi Phi members drugged and raped a former student over Oct. 19-20, 2024, at the fraternity’s on-campus house.
Van Houten defended the original decision not to charge anyone, saying the accuser’s November 2024 statement described the sex and drug use as voluntary, while her lawyer says trauma delayed fuller disclosures and key leads went unpursued.
Cornell backed the grand-jury review and said its Title IX process had already imposed expulsions, suspensions and a chapter ban, rejecting claims that students escaped with only essay-writing penalties.
The lawsuit also targets Cornell, Chi Phi, Tri Delta and Moonies Bar for negligence, while at least one accused student’s lawyer denied wrongdoing and welcomed the renewed investigation.