Full Breakdown
Cornell Fraternity Assault Lawsuit Spurs Reopened Criminal Probe and Online Accountability Campaign
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Allegations, Lawsuit and Reopened Criminal Probe
A civil lawsuit filed on September 16 alleges that a 20-year-old former Cornell student (“Jane Doe”) was drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at an October 2024 party. The complaint names Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar and accuses the fraternity, Cornell University, Delta Delta Delta sorority and a local bar of negligence.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office will present the case to a grand jury, noting “dramatically different” allegations in the civil complaint compared with the 2024 police statement. The grand-jury presentation is the first step toward possible criminal charges after the original investigation ended without charges.
Background & Context
The lawsuit revived media attention. Cornell’s 2024 Title IX investigation led to the temporary suspension of the Chi Phi chapter, two expulsions and several temporary suspensions with required workshops. The fraternity remains barred from campus.
Former “South Park” writer Toby Morton launched TheCornell7.org to aggregate public records, messages and photographs related to the case. He says the site is intended to create a durable record of the allegations.
Data & Statistics
- Seven fraternity members are named as defendants.
- Two were expelled; the other five received temporary sanctions.
- The lawsuit says the assault began after a Snapchat group message at approximately 1:42 a.m.
Official Statements & Responses
- District Attorney Van Houten: the civil complaint contains allegations “dramatically different” from the plaintiff’s 2024 police statement, which did not allege drugging or non-consensual activity.
- Cornell Daily Sun: the university’s November 2024 statement confirmed the temporary suspension of the Chi Phi chapter and interim safety measures.
Criticism & Opposition
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned a “culture of rape” at elite institutions. Actress Florence Pugh called the allegations “horrific,” and actor Josh Gad said the disciplinary outcomes were insufficient.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Social-media rumors claim some accused students wrote essays instead of harsher punishment. Cornell’s statement denies essays were the sole consequence, and Snopes could not verify the claim. The exact number of sanctions and the civil damages request remain undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Not one of these guys was arrested,” — Thomas Giuffra, attorney for Jane Doe
- “I’m building this carefully, and it will take time.” — Toby Morton
- “It’s our intention to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe’s cooperation,” — Matthew Van Houten
What’s Next
The grand-jury presentation is scheduled for the coming weeks. Cornell’s presidential task force on campus sexual assault, created in February 2025, will release policy recommendations after its March 2026 report. The Cornell 7 website remains under development, with Morton indicating ongoing collection of documents and photographs.
*Support resources:* RAINN (800-656-HOPE) and local rape-crisis hotlines are listed in multiple reports for survivors seeking assistance.