Schumer and Hochul demand independent review of Cornell assault case

Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have demanded an independent review of Cornell University's handling of allegations that a female former student was gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. Hochul on Tuesday called for outside counsel to conduct a transparent, independent review of the university's response to the allegations.abcnews.com+1

The demands follow a civil lawsuit filed earlier this month by the former student, who alleges she was drugged, assaulted and gang-raped by seven current and former members of Chi Phi. The case has drawn outrage and calls for an outside investigation into Cornell's campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting and response to sexual violence.independent.co.uk

What Schumer and Hochul demanded

Hochul said she is seeking to determine whether "Cornell met every obligation to protect its students and pursue justice." She called the allegations "nothing short of horrifying" and said that for any student to come forward after an experience like this takes extraordinary courage. She also said she supports the district attorney's decision to reopen the criminal investigation.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced that his office is reopening the investigation and considering whether to bring criminal charges. Van Houten said the allegations in the civil complaint are "dramatically different" from the woman's statement to police two years ago. He acknowledged he relied on Cornell Police's investigation and that his office did not independently investigate the allegations.

The case was reopened after the former student filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and gang-raped at Chi Phi in 2024. Van Houten's initial decision not to file charges relied solely on the signed 2024 statement. He said he had not been provided the underlying interview transcript before closing the case, saying, "I'm going to follow up on this because this is news to me."

Why the case was reopened

A campus police transcript, obtained by CBS News New York, documents an interview conducted over two days starting on November 14, 2024, more than three weeks after the alleged attack. In it, the woman told investigators she could say "with 100% confidence I was raped." Cornell University stated that its police department transmitted all investigative findings to the district attorney's office.

What the 2024 statement said

Van Houten described the allegations as "morally disturbing" but argued the 2024 account suggested she consented to the sexual activity. He said she did not withdraw her consent and that when she raised concerns, the fraternity members "stopped and did not pursue what they were doing." Attorneys for two defendants named in the lawsuit said their clients deny the allegations.

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo said he would issue a directive to stop issuing permits for student events at Cornell until the university conducts an accounting of its protocols to prevent and prosecute sexual crimes and publicly releases new standards. The Ithaca Common Council would have to adopt the resolution for it to take effect. The Ithaca Police Department said the incident was not reported to them at the time.

What happens next

A Cornell spokesperson said the university shares Hochul's commitment to addressing campus culture issues and is committed to working with state officials to advance student safety and wellbeing. Hochul said no student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act. Van Houten said he would request the transcript from Cornell Police.