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 lady 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 mentioned 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 criticism 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 consuming alcohol.
She turned utterly incapacitated whereas frat members have 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 college and the district legal professional’s workplace of their posts, whereas some have expressed doubt in regards to 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, in search of undisclosed damages. Her legal professional didn’t instantly reply Monday to messages in search of touch upon the prosecutor’s choice.
The girl went to campus police on the time, however Van Houten mentioned the accuser didn’t make any claims of being gang-raped or drugged in her preliminary sworn assertion to authorities.
The prosecutor additionally mentioned he was by no means contacted by the lady’s legal professional about her assertion or about reconsidering the choice to not prosecute, however he reached out to the legal professional lately.
“In search of justice typically requires us to rethink or reopen instances after we are supplied with further proof,” Van Houten mentioned in a press release.
“I’ve been requested by the group to revisit the choice whether or not to pursue felony prices towards the seven fraternity members. I’ve already begun that course of, beginning with our dialog with Jane Doe and her attorneys.”
