Overview
- A civil suit filed by the woman who says she was drugged and raped by seven Chi Phi members in October 2024 led Tompkins County prosecutors to reopen the criminal inquiry in early October 2026.
- Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to lead the case and said she will push to change the law that can block charges when victims voluntarily consumed alcohol or drugs.
- Cornell has closed the Chi Phi chapter, punished involved students with sanctions that could include suspension or expulsion, and its president ordered an independent external review of how the university handled the 2024 complaint.
- The Tompkins County prosecutor said he declined to press charges in 2024 after police reports described consensual contact, and multiple outlets reported parts of the victim’s campus police statement were redacted.
- Advocates note that roughly 20 states have similar legal barriers to prosecutions, that some states have recently revised those rules, and observers say this case could spur further legal reforms, new criminal action, and changes to fraternity oversight on campuses.