Cornell Fires Back at Gang Rape Accuser, Calling Her Claims 'Irresponsible' as Probe Reopens

Cornell University has fired back at a former student who accused seven Chi Phi fraternity members of sexual assault, calling claims that the university imposed minimal punishment 'irresponsible' as prosecutors reopen the criminal investigation.

The clash comes as Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten revisits the October 2024 allegations and prepares to take the case before a grand jury.

At the centre of the renewed scrutiny is a Snapchat group chat that Van Houten says his office never received, while the accuser's lawyer, Thomas P. Giuffra, says the material was given to authorities in 2024.

Cornell Pushes Back on Essay Claims

Cornell has not denied that essay-writing featured in its disciplinary process. It has instead rejected the suggestion that writing essays was the sole punishment imposed on the students.

Kyle Kimball, Cornell's vice president for university relations, said the university's investigation resulted in suspensions and expulsions, although Cornell has not disclosed the precise disciplinary outcome for each of the seven students.

'Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,' Cornell said.

The university went further, describing the continuation of what it called a 'false narrative' of minimal consequences as 'irresponsible', saying it could make survivors feel less safe and contribute to the underreporting of sexual assault.

Giuffra has said two of the seven students were expelled. Cornell has confirmed expulsions and suspensions but has not publicly provided a full breakdown, leaving the exact fate of the other students unclear.

DA Says Prosecutors Never Saw Chat

The most explosive new element is the Snapchat evidence cited in the civil lawsuit.

The complaint includes a screenshot from a group chat titled 'Chi Phi Actives', in which a message allegedly referred to the woman as 'free p—y' and encouraged other fraternity members to come to the room.

Van Houten says the image was never provided to his office. Giuffra disputes that account, saying the group chat was given to authorities in 2024 and describing it as a 'critical piece of evidence'.

The distinction between the two accounts is significant to the reopened Cornell gang-rape investigation. Van Houten has acknowledged that his office relied on the Cornell University Police investigation and did not independently investigate the allegations at the time.

Giuffra has criticised that approach, saying his client was not subsequently interviewed by investigators with specialist training in sexual-assault cases.

Why the 2024 Case Was Not Charged

The alleged incident took place at Cornell's Chi Phi house in Ithaca, New York, on 19 October 2024, when the woman was 20.

Her civil lawsuit alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members. The allegations have not been adjudicated, and individual defendants have denied wrongdoing.

Van Houten has said the woman's original statement to Cornell police did not allege that she had been drugged without her knowledge or forced to engage in sexual activity. He described the later civil complaint as 'dramatically different' from that earlier account.

Giuffra disputes that characterisation and has criticised the handling of the initial report.

Van Houten now says prosecutors want to determine whether additional evidence, including material highlighted by the lawsuit, could change their assessment of the case. He has said the case will be presented to a Tompkins County grand jury.

Cornell's Disciplinary Record Under Scrutiny

Cornell says its internal process included a months-long investigation and a hearing panel involving trained faculty and staff. The university says sanctions included suspensions and expulsions.

The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus, according to the university.

The criminal case, however, remained separate from Cornell's disciplinary proceedings. No criminal charges had been filed against the seven defendants when Van Houten announced the reopening.

Scott Kretzschmar's lawyer, Jeremy Saland, has denied the allegations against his client, saying Kretzschmar never sexually assaulted or touched the plaintiff. Scott Norris has also denied participating in sexual activity or drug use while acknowledging that he sent a message included in the complaint.

Grand Jury To Examine Reopened Case

The renewed Cornell rape investigation now turns on what evidence prosecutors had in 2024, what they did not see, and whether the material highlighted in the civil lawsuit warrants a different assessment.

For Cornell, the dispute over punishment remains unresolved in the public record. For prosecutors, the Snapchat group chat and the sharply different accounts of the original report are now part of a case being examined again.

The next major step will come before the grand jury, as prosecutors revisit allegations that produced no criminal charges nearly two years ago.