Ocasio-Cortez Discusses Cornell University Sexual Assault Allegations at Town Hall

<p>Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., presented a detailed account of a sexual assault case involving Cornell University during a town hall meeting hosted by More Perfect University on Sunday in Ithaca, New York. The case is based on a civil complaint filed last month by a former student, referred to as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in October 2024.</p><p>Ocasio-Cortez stated, "Seven men drugged and gang raped a 20-year-old woman." She elaborated, saying, "They lured her into a fraternity house, drugged her with ketamine, and then posted to a group chat that she was incapacitated, and seven men took turns gang raping her for seven hours."</p><p>She further claimed that the fraternity was aware of the incident and that Cornell University took insufficient disciplinary action, stating that only two individuals were expelled while others were required to write essays as punishment. Ocasio-Cortez emphasized, "The culture of rape, sexual assault, and pedophilia is protected in elite institutions across the United States, including Cornell University in this instance. It has got to stop."</p><p>Cornell University disputed Ocasio-Cortez's characterization of the disciplinary actions taken, clarifying that expulsions and suspensions were issued, and that no respondent was solely required to write an essay as a consequence. The civil complaint alleges that several students who received temporary suspensions were given the option to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to the university.</p><p>The civil lawsuit filed by Doe includes graphic allegations regarding events that occurred at the Chi Phi fraternity house nearly two years ago. The complaint states that Doe arrived at the fraternity house intoxicated, was pressured into taking ketamine, and was subjected to sexual acts without her consent. It also claims that one fraternity member posted a sexually explicit message about her in a fraternity Snapchat group.</p><p>According to the complaint, the incident concluded around 5:45 a.m. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten indicated that his office reviewed Doe's sworn statement in November 2024 and initially determined that the facts did not support criminal charges under New York law. He noted that Doe's 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."</p><p>Van Houten also mentioned that his office has reopened the investigation into the allegations, which will be presented to a Tompkins County grand jury for consideration of Doe's testimony and new evidence from the civil complaint.</p><p>Scott Kretzschmar, an attorney for one of the accused students, stated that his client welcomes the renewed investigation and strongly denies the allegations, asserting that his client had no sexual contact with Doe. Attorneys for several other accused fraternity members have also denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been announced in connection with the allegations.</p><p>Cornell University expressed support for the reopened investigation and stated that its own investigation resulted in a range of sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, and that the Chi Phi chapter was closed and barred from campus. The university remarked, "Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false. A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault."</p><p>New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor in the case. Fox News Digital has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office and Cornell University for additional comment.</p>