Cornell University Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Rape Case

Students walked through Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, N.Y., amidst controversy. A woman accused Cornell students of gang rape in 2024. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, confirmed her statement to police asserting she was raped. He cited her sworn statement from 2024 where she confidently claimed assault.

This contrasts with local prosecutor Matthew Van Houten’s claims, who denied she described rape in her statements. NPR inquired if Cornell campus police fully shared investigation details with the district attorney, but the university remained silent.

CBS News reported a conversation transcript between the Cornell Police investigator and the victim, which NPR has not obtained. Van Houten mentioned that the woman’s statement to police indicated voluntary drug use and consensual sexual conduct. Despite the allegations against seven men, no charges were filed.

Van Houten is acquiring the transcript from Cornell and evaluating the case. He stated the transcript is part of a confidential Title IX investigation by Cornell.

Jane Doe sued the accused assailants and Cornell in mid-September. Amid backlash, Cornell announced it would hire an external counsel to investigate the case handling. Discrepancies emerged when Cornell edited its FAQ page, removing a statement about sharing all investigatory information with the district attorney.

The new FAQ mentions Cornell Police as sworn deputies responsible for law enforcement at Cornell. The university didn’t respond to questions about these changes.

Cornell confirmed an external counsel will independently examine the allegations. The details of the investigation remain unspecified. Initially, Cornell defended its handling of the case, but New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for the investigation, suggesting stricter sexual assault laws.

Hochul emphasized New York’s strong sexual assault laws and expressed the need for improvement. She stated, “This culture has to stop, and it will stop here in the state of New York.”

This ongoing story will be updated as new information becomes available.