A Cornell student who says she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house told campus police, “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped”, according to an alleged transcript of her 2024 interview.
The interview with Cornell University Police took place in November 2024, three weeks after the alleged incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The account has emerged as the Tompkins County district attorney reopens the criminal investigation.
The transcript appears to conflict with the earlier characterisation of the student’s statement by district attorney Matthew Van Houten, who said she had not alleged that she was drugged against her will or gang raped.
Mr Van Houten previously described her drug use and sexual activity as “voluntary, conscious and consensual”. It is unclear whether the transcript obtained by CBS New York represents the complete police interview.
The case was reopened after the student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit accusing seven Chi Phi members of drugging and sexually assaulting her over several hours.
The district attorney has described the lawsuit as presenting a “dramatically different” account from the student’s original statement and plans to put the case before a grand jury.
Jane Doe’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, has said the police report included allegations of sexual assault and ketamine use, and was not materially different from the claims made in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that one fraternity member sent a Snapchat message to a group of Chi Phi members saying there was “free p***y” upstairs, allegedly inviting others to join the assault.
Lawyers for two of the accused men have denied the allegations. Cornell University said it imposed serious disciplinary sanctions, including suspensions and expulsions.
No criminal charges have been filed.
