Cornell University Chi Phi Lawsuit

On October 9, 2026, the student-run Cornell Concert Commission canceled its October 17 homecoming concert featuring indie-pop duo Between Friends at Barton Hall in solidarity with an alleged gang rape victim known as Jane Doe.

Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in September 2026 against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven fraternity members, alleging she was coerced into consuming alcohol and ketamine before being sexually assaulted at the fraternity house on October 19, 2024.

Following the September 2026 lawsuit, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the investigation, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor after no charges were initially filed when the incident was first reported in 2024.

Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff announced on October 6, 2026, that former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates will lead an independent review of the university's handling of the disciplinary case.

The Cornell Concert Commission plans to replace the homecoming event with a charity concert featuring local student bands and DJs, with all proceeds donated to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

During his October 9, 2026 broadcast, talk show host Bill Maher condemned his alma mater Cornell University over a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit involving an unnamed female student.

Maher called for the complete abolition of college Greek life, arguing that all-male institutions foster depravity, excessive drinking, and cruelty.

The underlying lawsuit involves a student who accused seven men of drugging and raping her at a Cornell fraternity house party in October 2024.

Following initial university investigations that resulted in expulsions for two men and lesser punishments for five others, New York Attorney General Letitia James re-opened the case.

Maher joined a growing list of public figures and celebrities, including Florence Pugh and Mariska Hargitay, who have publicly condemned the case.

On October 9, 2026, Representative Nancy Mace posted on X that "a consensual gangbang is not a rape," referencing the high-profile civil lawsuit involving seven former Cornell University fraternity members.

Mace's remarks followed the release of text messages showing the anonymous accuser, Jane Doe, telling participants they should not "feel any shame" and writing "our body our choice" after the October 2024 encounter at the Chi Phi fraternity house.

Thomas Giuffra, the attorney for the accuser, defended the friendly post-encounter messages as part of his client's early denial and shame before she processed group chats where fraternity members bragged about an "eightsome."

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that no criminal charges were initially filed in 2024 because the accuser voluntarily consumed drugs and alcohol and did not initially allege she was incapacitated.

Following the civil suit filed in September 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee a reopened criminal investigation.

On October 7, 2026, Cornell University Catholic clergy released an 11-page pastoral letter titled "Salt, Leaven, and Light" to guide students amid intense campus protests.

The controversy stems from a September 16 civil lawsuit filed by a former student alleging she was gang raped by seven men at a campus fraternity house in 2024.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James opened a criminal investigation into how the university and local officials handled the allegations.

The civil lawsuit names Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and a local bar as defendants for failing to protect the victim.

Deacon Matthew Hall and chaplains Father Daniel McMullin and Father David Cataline offered students nine specific suggestions, including prayer and studying moral theology.

In a May 2025 hearing transcript, a Cornell student known as Jane Doe testified that she was drugged with ketamine and repeatedly assaulted by 8 to 10 members of the Chi Phi fraternity during an October 19, 2024, event, describing herself as being held like bait for a gaggle of men.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the case after local prosecutors initially declined to bring charges.

The Cornell University Board of Trustees appointed former Acting and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates to lead an independent investigation into how the university handled the allegations.

Cornell faculty submitted a vote of no confidence in university administrators because multiple students named in the civil lawsuit remain enrolled and are actively attending classes.

Fraternity members posted a Snapchat message the night of the incident advertising a free sexual encounter and telling members to come whip it out, while some accused members maintained the encounter was consensual.

Internal Cornell University paperwork shows Jonathan Newell—one of seven former Chi Phi fraternity members named in a civil lawsuit accusing them of gang raping a student in October 2024—was officially designated as a trained sober event monitor for the party.

While assigned to remain sober and wear distinctive clothing to ensure safety, Newell admitted to campus police that he had consumed three beers, several shots, two mixed drinks, and half a bottle of strawberry tequila before arriving at the party intoxicated.

Text messages from two days after the incident show Newell told the accuser, identified as Jane Doe, that he had no memory of certain events and felt terrible for being too intoxicated to shut down the situation.

Following his prior expulsion from Cornell University, Newell was recently expelled from Nova Southeastern University in Florida after school officials learned of the ongoing sexual abuse allegations.

On October 21, 2024, text messages obtained by TMZ showed an anonymous Cornell University student telling Chi Phi fraternity member Jonathan Newell that 'none of the sexual stuff was illegal' and writing 'our body our choice asf' regarding an encounter two days prior.

In the same text exchange, the woman told Newell that she 'really liked being w u and matt' and mentioned snorting ketamine off his penis, describing it as 'one of the most insane/jaw dropping moments of the night.'

Weeks later, on November 3, 2024, the accuser changed her stance in texts to Newell, writing that '90% of what happened that night was not consensual' and comparing her treatment to being treated 'like a sex doll/worker.'

The Tompkins County District Attorney initially declined to bring criminal charges due to insufficient evidence of a crime, though the case drew renewed scrutiny leading to an active investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

On Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., armed police swarmed the home of Cornell University rape accuser Jane Doe's parents after a false 911 call claimed an active shooter had killed his mother and sister.

Attorney Thomas Giuffra stated that Doe has received dozens of violent threats, including a text with three gun emojis and an audio recording demanding she withdraw her lawsuit or face bloodshed.

Doe filed a 101-page civil lawsuit in mid-September against Cornell University, the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven members, alleging she was drugged and gang-raped in October 2024.

In response to the case, New York Governor Kathy Hochul transferred the criminal investigation to State Attorney General Letitia James, while roughly 80 students staged a seven-hour sit-in protest on campus.

During the swatting incident, officers drew weapons on Doe's father, brother, and boyfriend before discovering the emergency call was a bogus tip related to the ongoing Cornell case.

Gillio Lopes, a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity, plans to finish his degree and continue attending classes on campus.

Cornell previously suspended Lopes for three semesters and placed him on two years of probation after a Title IX investigation concluded he was responsible for sexual assault.

Defense attorney Andrew Miltenberg stated that Lopes believes he did nothing to warrant remorse, maintaining that his sexual encounter with Jane Doe was consensual.

Lopes faced a public confrontation outside a Cornell class last week when a fellow student filmed herself asking him if he was ashamed to be on campus.

Miltenberg filed a formal petition calling for New York Attorney General Letitia James to recuse herself from the state criminal investigation due to alleged bias.

On October 6, 2026, roughly 40 Cornell University Faculty Senate members introduced a resolution for a vote of no confidence against the administration over its handling of an alleged 2024 gang rape, with a full Senate vote scheduled for October 14.

The student known as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven fraternity members, alleging the school failed to protect her and adequately punish the accused students after the incident occurred in 2024.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor after stating she lost faith in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten's initial handling of the case, which previously resulted in no criminal charges.

During protests on October 5, 2026, hundreds of students and community members rallied on campus demanding the resignation of Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and calling for an independent judicial system.

President Michael Kotlikoff released a video statement promising an independent review by an outside law firm and stating two of the accused men were expelled while others received suspensions or campus bans in 2024.

Singer Olivia Rodrigo posted a statement on her Instagram Stories condemning Cornell University and supporting an anonymous plaintiff known as Jane Doe, who filed a civil lawsuit in September 2026.

The lawsuit alleges that Jane Doe was pressured to consume ketamine, marijuana, and alcohol before being gang-raped by seven fraternity brothers at the Chi Phi house on October 19, 2024.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul directed State Attorney General Letitia James to take over the criminal investigation into the alleged assault after initial local probes resulted in no criminal charges.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff issued a video statement acknowledging that the incident raises serious concerns about the university's initial handling of the allegations and party culture.

Three of the accused fraternity members publicly denied participating in the alleged assaults or drug use, while other defendants previously claimed the sexual contact was consensual.

On October 3, 2026, Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff released an eight-minute video statement calling the 2024 gang rape of a student a defining, deeply disturbing moment and admitting the administration must do better.

The scandal centers on allegations that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and raped a student in October 2024, prompting the victim, identified as Jane Doe, to file a lawsuit against the seven men and the university on September 16, 2026.

Following initial university police investigations, the Tompkins County District Attorney declined to bring criminal charges, citing a New York law where voluntary intoxication of a victim serves as a legal barrier to prosecution.

In response to intense public backlash and student protests, New York Governor Kathy Hochul handed the criminal investigation over to State Attorney General Letitia James, and Cornell's board will retain an independent outside law firm to review the case.

Cornell expelled two students and imposed lesser sanctions on others, while President Kotlikoff pledged greater transparency, a review of campus Greek life, and support for legislative changes to New York's sexual assault laws.

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, President Donald Trump told reporters he did not know much about the case but described Cornell University as a "fine school" and expressed confidence the university would "do what's right."

Trump's comments followed a civil lawsuit filed by a former student alleging she was drugged with ketamine and gang-raped by seven members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity at a party on October 19, 2024.

Following national outrage and criticism over the local district attorney's handling of the case, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee the reopened criminal investigation.

While Cornell stated its Title IX process resulted in student suspensions and expulsions and barred the Chi Phi chapter from campus, the university faced intense campus protests and heavy scrutiny over its response.

The Trump administration previously reached a $60 million agreement with Cornell nearly a year prior that restored federal funding and ended pending federal investigations into the institution.

On October 1, 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to lead a reopened criminal investigation into an alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old student at Cornell University in October 2024.

The alleged assault took place at the Chi Phi fraternity house, where the victim was reportedly given alcohol, cannabis, and ketamine before being subjected to an assault involving seven male students known as the Cornell Seven.

Local prosecutor Matthew Van Houten initially declined to file criminal charges in late 2024 because the victim's initial police statement described the encounters as consensual, but he reopened the case after a civil lawsuit filed on September 16, 2026 revealed new evidence, including Snapchat messages.

Following an internal Title IX investigation concluding with twelve hearings, Cornell University temporarily suspended and expelled several of the accused students while requiring others to write disciplinary essays.

The civil lawsuit filed on September 16, 2026 targets Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, the seven accused students, and a local bar accused of serving alcohol to the underage victim.

On September 29, 2026, actor Hudson Williams posted photos of seven current and former members of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity on Instagram, writing, "Arrest them. Fuck them and fuck Cornell too."

The public outcry followed a civil lawsuit filed on September 16, 2026, by a former student accusing the seven men of drugging and gang-raping her at the fraternity house on October 19, 2024.

Following the civil filing, the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office decided on September 28, 2026, to reexamine the criminal investigation and present evidence to a grand jury.

Cornell expelled two of the accused men while issuing lesser disciplinary measures, including temporary suspensions and essay-writing assignments, to the other five students.

Other public figures, including Florence Pugh, Josh Gad, Mariska Hargitay, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also spoke out publicly to condemn the alleged conduct and the university's handling of the case.

A civil lawsuit filed on September 14, 2026, in New York Supreme Court names seven former Cornell University students, including Michigan native Scott Kretschmar, alleging they drugged and sexually assaulted a female student at the Chi Phi fraternity house between October 19 and October 20, 2024.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation on September 28, 2026, assigning a senior prosecutor to prepare a grand jury presentation after previously declining to file charges in November 2024.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Cornell agreed to an independent review by outside counsel to examine the university's handling of the report, its investigation, and student protections.

Cornell permanently barred the Chi Phi fraternity from campus following the initial 2024 report, though the university has not publicly released specific disciplinary outcomes for individual students.

Attorneys for the defendants deny the sexual assault and drug use allegations, with Kretschmar's lawyer arguing that messages sent in a Snapchat group chat do not constitute sex crimes.

On September 29, 2026, Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo proposed an immediate moratorium on Greek life and student event permits, halting city coordination until Cornell University publicly reviews and updates its sexual violence protocols.

The mayor's policy directive followed a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members drugged her with ketamine and sexually assaulted her at the fraternity house in October 2024.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation into the case, noting that the victim's recent civil complaint differs from the initial statement she provided to police in 2024.

Mayor Cantelmo sharply criticized Cornell administrators and campus police for failing to notify or coordinate with the Ithaca Police Department after the allegations emerged.

Cornell stated that its separate Title IX internal process resulted in student suspensions and expulsions, and that the Chi Phi chapter was closed and barred from campus in 2024.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the investigation into an October 2024 alleged gang rape at Cornell University after new evidence, including Snapchat messages, surfaced in a recent lawsuit.

The plaintiff alleges she was drugged with ketamine at the Chi Phi fraternity house before being assaulted by seven students, who were initially subject to varying disciplinary actions including expulsion, suspension, and essay assignments.

Cornell University officials stated that the case underwent an extensive Title IX adjudication process and denied that essay writing was the sole punishment imposed on the accused students.

The victim reported the incident to Cornell University Police in November 2024, but the case was closed without criminal charges after the university allegedly failed to provide key evidence to the district attorney.

The Tompkins County District Attorney is reopening a criminal investigation into a 2024 sexual assault case involving seven Chi Phi fraternity members after a new 101-page civil lawsuit provided evidence not previously reviewed.

The lawsuit alleges the victim was drugged with ketamine and sexually assaulted for several hours while incapacitated, citing a Snapchat group chat where members allegedly invited others to join the assault.

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated the initial 2024 investigation resulted in no charges because the victim's original police statement described the sexual activity as consensual and did not mention being drugged.

The victim's attorney disputes the adequacy of the initial probe, claiming the police report was not substantially different from the current lawsuit and that the victim was never interviewed by specialized investigators.

Cornell University confirmed it conducted a Title IX investigation in 2024 resulting in disciplinary sanctions, including suspensions and expulsions, though it denied the victim's claim that students were allowed to write essays to mitigate their conduct.

The Tompkins County district attorney is reopening a criminal investigation into allegations that seven Cornell fraternity members drugged and gang-raped a student in 2024.

The accuser filed a civil lawsuit claiming Cornell's internal investigation resulted in inadequate discipline, including essay assignments, rather than expulsion for most accused students.

Cornell University has barred the Xi chapter of the Chi Pi fraternity from campus following its own administrative review of the incident.

The Tompkins County District Attorney reopened a criminal investigation into allegations that seven Chi Phi fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted a student in October 2024.

The investigation was revived following a new civil lawsuit and the emergence of leaked fraternity group chat messages, which allegedly included an invitation to participate in the assault.

Prosecutors previously declined to bring charges in 2024, citing the accuser's initial statement which described voluntary alcohol and ketamine consumption, factors that under New York law do not automatically negate the legal capacity to consent.

Cornell University has denied claims that the only disciplinary action taken against the accused students was requiring them to write essays, stating that the university also issued suspensions and expulsions.

A lawsuit filed September 16, 2026, alleges seven Chi Phi fraternity members drugged and gang-raped a 20-year-old student at Cornell University on October 19, 2024.

The victim's legal filing claims Cornell's internal investigation resulted in only two expulsions, while other accused students received sanctions including temporary suspensions and essay-writing assignments.

High-profile figures including Mariska Hargitay, Josh Gad, and Jameela Jamil have publicly criticized the university's response, citing reports that 57 fraternity members were aware of the incident via a group chat.

New York State prosecutors have announced they will reopen a criminal inquiry into the case following the public outcry and the filing of the civil lawsuit.

Wells Fargo fired Diego Sarabia from its Charlotte, North Carolina branch following the Tompkins County District Attorney's decision to reopen a criminal investigation into an alleged 2024 sexual assault.

Sarabia is one of seven Cornell University alumni named in a civil lawsuit alleging that a student was drugged and sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.

The Tompkins County District Attorney plans to present the case to a grand jury, despite having declined to file criminal charges when the incident was initially reported.

Former South Park writer Toby Morton launched TheCornell7.org to document allegations against seven Chi Phi fraternity members accused of drugging and gang-raping a student in October 2024.

Tompkins County prosecutors reopened the criminal investigation after a September 16 civil lawsuit introduced new allegations, including claims that the university allowed some accused students to mitigate discipline by writing essays.

Cornell University stated that it supports the grand jury process but denies claims that it failed to impose consequential punishments, noting that two of the seven men were expelled following the initial 2024 investigation.

Morton, who previously gained attention for purchasing domains related to political figures, stated he intends to use the website, billboards, and advertisements to expose the accused men and university staff involved in the disciplinary process.

The Tompkins County District Attorney reopened a criminal investigation into a 2024 incident involving seven former Chi Phi fraternity members after a new 101-page lawsuit provided details that differed significantly from the victim's initial police report.

Lawyers for defendant Scott Kretzschmar dismissed the lawsuit as a "money grab," asserting that their client did not participate in sexual assault, did not touch the victim, and passed a hair follicle test for ketamine.

The lawsuit alleges that fraternity members used a Snapchat group chat to invite others to assault the victim, who was reportedly incapacitated by alcohol and ketamine, while the victim's attorney argues Kretzschmar failed to intervene despite witnessing the situation.

Cornell University shuttered the Chi Phi chapter following the allegations and confirmed that some of the accused students were expelled, though the exact number remains undisclosed.

Prosecutors are reopening a criminal investigation into a 2024 incident at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity after a civil lawsuit alleged seven members drugged and gang-raped a female student.

The District Attorney previously declined to press charges in 2024, citing the victim's initial police statement which did not mention drugging or lack of consent, though her attorney claims authorities ignored critical evidence including a group chat.

Following an internal university review, Cornell expelled two students and suspended others, while the Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus.

The civil complaint alleges the assault lasted several hours on October 19-20, 2024, and included defendants using a group chat to invite others to the room.

A former student is suing Cornell University and seven Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging she was drugged with ketamine and sexually assaulted for hours at a fraternity event in October 2024.

Following a university investigation, only two of the seven accused fraternity members were expelled, while others received lesser sanctions including suspensions, workshops, and writing essays.

Actor Florence Pugh publicly criticized the university's handling of the case, calling on men to actively condemn the alleged violence and challenging institutions that prioritize protecting students' reputations over victim safety.

Cornell University stated that the Chi Phi fraternity remains barred and that a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault was established following the incident to implement new safety recommendations.

Attorneys representing the defendants have formally denied the allegations, characterizing the claims made in the lawsuit as false.

A former student filed a 101-page lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging seven Chi Phi fraternity members drugged her with ketamine and sexually assaulted her for several hours on October 19, 2024.

The lawsuit claims fraternity members used a Snapchat group titled "Chi Phi Actives" to invite others to the assault, with one member messaging "free p—y" while the victim was incapacitated.

The plaintiff alleges that Cornell University failed to protect students and offered the accused men the opportunity to mitigate disciplinary consequences by writing essays.

While the Tompkins County District Attorney’s office confirmed no criminal charges were brought against the seven named defendants, the fraternity remains under interim suspension at Cornell.