Summary: A 101-page civil lawsuit filed in 2026 by a woman identified as Jane Doe alleges seven members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity drugged and gang raped her on October 19, 2024. The Tompkins County District Attorney's Office has reopened the case to seek a grand jury review after questions about the original investigation and new evidence, including Snapchat screenshots, surfaced. Cornell says it conducted a Title IX process and closed the Chi Phi chapter; Doe's attorneys and the DA dispute whether the initial 2024 police report contained the same allegations. The suit seeks monetary damages and a jury trial.
101-Page Lawsuit Spurs Grand Jury Review After Alleged 2024 Gang Rape At Cornell
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in Ithaca on Monday. - Heather Ainsworth/AP
A 101-page lawsuit filed in 2026 by a woman identified as Jane Doe accuses seven members of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity of drugging and gang raping her inside the fraternity house on the night of October 19, 2024. The filing and public reaction have prompted the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office to reopen the matter for possible grand-jury review.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the complaint, Doe was 20 years old and had been drinking earlier that night at her sorority house and at a bar. The suit alleges she consumed about 10 standard drinks in roughly three hours before arriving at the Chi Phi Xi Chapter house to visit a friend who was one of the fraternity members.
The complaint contends that, once inside the fraternity house, the friend and another member gave Doe more alcohol and pressured her to snort a substance they described as ketamine. It further alleges that while Doe was "incapable of consent," multiple fraternity members sexually assaulted her over several hours — an episode the suit says lasted until about 5:45 a.m. The filing includes screenshots and a photo of a Snapchat group chat titled "Chi Phi Actives," which it says shows a 1:42 a.m. post reading "free p*ssy."
Investigation, DA Response And Dispute Over Original Report
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has said his office initially did not file criminal charges because, in the DA's view, Doe's 2024 statement to police did not contain the same core allegations now detailed in the complaint. Van Houten also said the DA's office did not see the Snapchat screenshots during its first review; Cornell later provided those messages to prosecutors.
Doe's attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, disputes the DA's account, saying the information was promptly reported to Cornell and that her earlier report was "not materially different" from the 2026 complaint. The DA's office has not released the full police report; CNN has sought a copy from Doe's counsel.
Students at the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, on April 11, 2023. - Bing Guan/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Cornell's Title IX Process And Discipline
Cornell says it conducted a formal Title IX investigation separate from any criminal inquiry. A university panel of trained faculty and staff heard evidence over several days and imposed a range of sanctions. The university has confirmed it closed the Chi Phi chapter and barred it from campus. Doe's attorney says two students were expelled while others received lesser punishments; Cornell says it will not confirm individual disciplinary outcomes because of student-privacy laws but denies that minimal sanctions were imposed.
Public Reaction And Next Steps
The lawsuit, questions about the absence of initial criminal charges and debate over campus discipline have sparked public outrage. Ithaca's mayor called for a pause on Greek life and student group gatherings until the university reviews prevention and response protocols. Representatives, activists and public figures have condemned the alleged conduct and urged accountability.
The complaint seeks a jury trial and monetary damages. The DA's office is seeking a grand-jury review to determine whether criminal charges should be brought against the seven accused students. Several parties named in the lawsuit, including the Chi Phi national organization and the Cornell University Police Department, have been contacted for comment.
Legal Notes: These are allegations in a civil complaint. The accused individuals have denied wrongdoing; no convictions have been reported. The DA's reopening of the matter means a grand jury will review evidence and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
Support And Resources
If you or someone you know needs help in the United States, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or use the 24/7 online chat at online.rainn.org.
Reporting contributions: CNN reporters Jeff Winter and Cindy Von Quednow. The article summarizes allegations and public statements by involved parties; investigation and litigation are ongoing.
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