New York state prosecutors have reopened an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University, following the filing of a civil lawsuit by a former student who claims she was drugged and assaulted. The lawsuit accuses the university and local law enforcement of failing to adequately address the allegations.

The case has drawn significant attention and sparked public anger on social media concerning the initial handling of the complaint by Cornell University and the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office. The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, alleges the incident occurred in 2024 at a fraternity house.

According to the 101-page lawsuit filed on September 16, Doe visited the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024, after consuming alcohol at an off-campus bar. She claims two fraternity members propositioned her and later pressured her to consume ketamine and marijuana. Doe, then 20, alleges she was raped by seven men over a seven-hour period before losing consciousness.

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that while his office initially found insufficient evidence to press charges based on the complainant's initial statement, he has now decided to present the case to a grand jury. "Once we determine the appropriate charges, the case will be prosecuted in the most objective and impartial means available – by testimony to the Tompkins County grand jury," Van Houten said.

Doe's attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told CBS News that his client reported the incident to the Cornell University Police Department on November 8, 2024, but felt she was not adequately investigated by the District Attorney's Office. Giuffra indicated that Cornell University conducted an internal review, resulting in the expulsion of two fraternity members and lesser sanctions for five others, including workshops and essay assignments.

The lawsuit names Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar as the individuals involved. Doe stated in the lawsuit that her intoxicated state made it impossible for her to consent to sexual activity. She subsequently withdrew from Cornell University following the alleged assault.

Giuffra emphasized that his client sought police intervention because she believed she was a victim of a crime. He further stated that no arrests were made, and highlighted that investigators trained in interviewing sexual assault survivors did not contact Doe beyond her initial interaction with the university police.

The reopening of the investigation by prosecutors signals a potential shift in the legal process, allowing a grand jury to review the evidence and determine whether criminal charges should be filed. The civil lawsuit seeks accountability from both the university and the individuals accused of assault.