Latest Developments on the Investigation of the Cornell University Sexual Assault Case

The county’s top prosecutor announced Monday that his office is reinstating a criminal inquiry into the alleged sexual assault.

After determining sufficient evidence, District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the matter will move forward to a grand jury, stressing an objective and impartial process.

Under U.S. law, prosecutors convene grand juries to assess witness testimony and evidence before deciding whether charges should be filed.

At the time of the assault approximately two years prior, the prosecution had judged that the victim’s initial statements fell below the legal standard required to justify a charge.

The DA clarified that he had engaged with Jane Doe and her counsel to gather further details before approaching the grand jury stage.

His release summarizes statements made by Doe to campus police in late 2024, pointing out gaps between those accounts and the claims advanced in the lawsuit.

“Jane Doe’s sworn November 2024 statement stated she was not accused of being drugged against her will or experienced gang‑rape,” Van Houten said in his Monday announcement.

“Consequently, Doe’s own account characterises her involvement with drugs and sexual activity as voluntary, conscious, and consensual.”

CBS News New York reports having secured a transcript of Doe’s interviews with campus police that started on 14 November—more than three weeks after the incident.

When describing the initial encounter she remarked, “I was pretty OK with all of this.”

Later she asserted, “I can say with 100 percent certainty that I was raped,” indicating a clear recollection of a non‑consensual event.

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