New York State Launches Criminal Investigation into 2024 Cornell University Fraternity Assault Allegations

In October 2024, allegations of gang rape and forced substance use emerged at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University. The victim reported the event to campus police. The official report sent to the Tompkins County District Attorney omitted her statement of absolute certainty regarding the assault. The District Attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges. Prosecutors cited insufficient evidence.

Cornell University conducted an internal review. The university expelled or suspended several students and barred the fraternity. The case remained closed until September 2026. At that time, the victim filed a civil lawsuit. This legal action prompted a new review of the evidence. Investigators examined a Snapchat group chat where members discussed the encounter. This evidence triggered a state-level intervention.

1. Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on October 1, 2026. The order appointed Attorney General Letitia James to lead the investigation. Hochul stated that she lacked confidence in local authorities.

2. The appointment follows concerns about the initial investigation. Campus police omitted the victim's statement of 100 percent confidence from the report sent to the Tompkins County District Attorney. District Attorney Van Houten said his office did not receive the full picture.

3. The investigation will examine evidence omitted from the initial 2024 review. This evidence includes a Snapchat group chat where fraternity members discussed the sexual encounter. Cornell University reported that it provided these records to the district attorney's office.

4. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed support for Governor Kathy Hochul's appointment of Letitia James as special prosecutor. Mamdani announced this position on social media.

1. Attorneys for two accused men deny the allegations. A lawyer for a third defendant denies wrongdoing. The defense teams state their clients are not responsible for acts described in the civil lawsuit and the following criminal investigation.

2. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten defended his decision not to file charges. He stated that he had reviewed only a statement from the accuser. That statement implied the incident was consensual. Cornell University officials reported that they provided his office with evidence. This evidence included a Snapchat group chat.

3. Authorities closed the initial investigation into the 2024 incident without filing criminal charges. Cornell University defended its handling of the allegations. The university expelled or suspended students, but those actions did not result in criminal accountability.

4. Kathy Hochul stated she lost faith in local authorities. The district attorney said Cornell failed to provide the full picture.