New details have emerged in the Cornell University alleged gang rape lawsuit. The Tompkins County district attorney has announced that the criminal case is being reopened because there are discrepancies between the victim’s original statement and the allegations in the lawsuit.
Video Evidence from Fraternity’s Snapchat
CBS News New York has obtained exclusive video footage of a fraternity’s group Snapchat conversation. This footage is from the night when a former Cornell student claims she was drugged and raped inside the Chi Phi fraternity house. At 1:42 a.m. on the night of the alleged incident, the chat had a message suggesting a woman was available for sex. A fraternity member asked, “Shop still open?” to which the response was “Yea.”
The woman’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has expressed frustration over the lack of arrests, saying, “Not one of these guys was arrested. Not one. That I can tell you for a fact.”
Defense Attorney’s Comments
Attorney Jeremy Saland, representing Scott Kretzschmar, stated that the lawsuit accuses seven individuals of sexual assault. Kretzschmar is accused of pouring ketamine on the woman and snorting it. Saland refuted this, citing a hair follicle test showing no ketamine in Kretzschmar’s system. He also mentioned that his client was in the room briefly and saw no signs of distress.
Case Reopened by District Attorney
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten is reopening the investigation. He highlighted inconsistencies between Doe’s original sworn statement and the current lawsuit. Initially, Doe described her participation in drug use and sexual acts as voluntary. Her attorney, Giuffra, claims the original police report aligns with the lawsuit and that investigators missed key evidence, like the group chat.
A senior prosecutor experienced in sex crimes is handling the case for the grand jury. The DA intends to allow Doe to testify and submit new evidence.
Reactions and Statements
Saland remains confident that no charges will arise from the renewed investigation. “We welcome the opportunity and are confident it will resolve in the same way, with no charges,” he stated.
Cornell University supports the DA’s decision. The university conducted its Title IX investigation, leading to sanctions. Attorney Andrew Miltenberg, representing defendant Gillio Lopes, reiterated his client’s denial of the allegations and emphasized the need for evidence-based judgment.
Miltenberg added, “Cornell previously investigated these allegations. Now publicly made accusations differ from what was reported and investigated. These are serious accusations, but accusations are not proof.”