4 minPolitics
Ocasio-Cortez's Account of Cornell Rape Case Disputed by University and Prosecutor
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described a Cornell sexual assault case as a gang rape by seven fraternity members, but the university and the district attorney say the details differ from the civil complaint and the original sworn statement.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., offered a sweeping account of a Cornell University sexual assault case during a town hall in Ithaca on Sunday, but her description conflicts with details in the underlying civil complaint and with the university's account of its disciplinary actions.
Speaking at an event hosted by More Perfect University, Ocasio-Cortez said seven men drugged and gang-raped a 20-year-old woman at a fraternity house, luring her in, giving her ketamine, and posting in a group chat that she was incapacitated before taking turns assaulting her for seven hours. She also said Cornell expelled only two students and required the rest to write essays as punishment, and she accused elite institutions of protecting a culture of sexual assault.
Cornell disputed that characterization. The university said it issued expulsions and suspensions and that no respondent was required to write an essay as the sole consequence. It added that its months-long investigation led to a range of sanctions, including the closure of the Chi Phi chapter and a bar on its return to campus. «Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,» Cornell said, warning that repeating a false narrative would make survivors feel less safe and discourage reporting.
The civil complaint, filed last month by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe, names Cornell, fraternity-related entities, seven individual defendants and other defendants. It alleges that Doe was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in October 2024 after being plied with alcohol and drugs. According to the complaint, she arrived at the fraternity house intoxicated, was pressured into taking ketamine and was subjected to sexual acts without her consent. It further alleges that a fraternity member posted a sexually explicit message about her in a fraternity Snapchat group. The incident ended around 5:45 a.m., according to the complaint.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office reviewed Doe's sworn statement in November 2024 and initially determined the facts did not support criminal charges under New York law. He said the statement «did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped» and described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as «voluntary, conscious, and consensual.» Van Houten said his office has reopened the investigation and will revisit whether to pursue charges against the seven fraternity members. A senior prosecutor experienced in sex-crime cases is preparing the matter for a Tompkins County grand jury, which could consider Doe's testimony and new evidence raised by the civil complaint.
Scott Kretzschmar, an attorney for one of the accused students, said his client welcomes the renewed investigation and strongly denied the allegations, saying his client had no sexual contact with Doe. Attorneys for several other accused fraternity members have also denied wrongdoing. No criminal charges have been announced.
Cornell said it supports the reopened investigation. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the case. Ocasio-Cortez's office and Cornell have been contacted for additional comment.
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