Overview
- The plaintiff, using the pseudonym Jane Doe, alleges she was drugged with ketamine and sexually assaulted by seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity during the night of October 19–20, 2024.
- She filed a civil lawsuit in mid‑September 2026 that made detailed allegations public, including alleged Snapchat messages and a claim that she told campus police “I can say with 100% certainty that I was raped,” text later omitted from a short police summary.
- Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten declined to bring charges in 2024 but reopened the criminal probe after the lawsuit and reporting raised questions about the original handling of the case.
- Governor Kathy Hochul removed confidence in the local response and named New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor while Cornell has closed the Chi Phi chapter and launched an independent external review of its handling.
- The case has produced a large online solidarity campaign using #IAmJaneDoe, reports of threats and doxxing attempts against the plaintiff and her lawyer, and political backlash that could prompt changes to how the law treats drugged or incapacitated victims.