Cornell Police Interrogation Reveals Fraternity Members Claimed Assault Was Consensual

Key points

• ABC News obtained video showing two Chi Phi members describing the October 2024 incident as consensual to Cornell police.
• The men in the footage are not among the seven individuals named in the civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, Jane Doe.
• A separate interview in the video features a female student claiming the fraternity held a meeting to align stories and describe the event as a consensual orgy.
• The lawsuit alleges the victim was drugged and assaulted at the Chi Phi house, while the Tompkins County District Attorney declined criminal charges due to insufficient evidence.
• Cornell has faced scrutiny over its Title IX response, including an independent audit led by former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

Background

This development follows a civil lawsuit filed in September 2026 by a former Cornell student alleging she was drugged and gang-raped by seven Chi Phi members in October 2024. Previous coverage noted that while Cornell issued suspensions and expulsions, critics argued the response was inadequate. The district attorney had previously declined to bring criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence, leading to the civil suit seeking damages for negligence and failure to protect.

Why it matters

The release of this video intensifies scrutiny on Cornell University's handling of sexual assault cases and the reliability of fraternity defense strategies. It highlights the gap between campus police investigations and civil litigation, potentially influencing public perception of institutional accountability in higher education.

What to watch

The civil lawsuit is expected to proceed, with the university and defendants facing claims of negligence and inadequate response. The independent audit by Sally Yates may further examine Cornell's Title IX procedures, potentially leading to policy changes or additional sanctions.