Donald Trump has said he is confident Cornell University will 'do what's right' over an alleged gang rape at one of its fraternity houses. He spoke days after a New York prosecutor reopened the case and said he would present it to a grand jury.
A reporter at the White House asked on Thursday whether the Ivy League school had 'done enough to investigate'. The president said he was not across the details, telling reporters: 'Well, I don't know that much about it. But Cornell's a fine school, and I'm sure they'll do what's right.'
His remarks came almost a year after his administration reached a $60 million (about £45 million) agreement with Cornell. The deal restored the university's federal funding and ended federal investigations into the school.
Trump cracks a joke about sexual harassment after the Cornell gang rape news:
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) September 30, 2026
“You’re not allowed to talk about the beauty of a woman because it’s the immediate end of your political career” pic.twitter.com/2kgoWt6Hiu
Why No Charges Were Brought in 2024
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten confirmed on 28 September that he was reopening the investigation. In a lengthy written statement, he said a senior prosecutor in his office would prepare the case for presentation to a grand jury.
Van Houten said his office did not bring charges in 2024 because Doe's sworn statement of November 2024 described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as 'voluntary, conscious, and consensual'. He said it did not allege that she had been drugged against her will or gang-raped, as the civil complaint later did. Doe's attorney, Thomas P Giuffra, disputes that account, saying her original report was 'not materially different' from the 2026 complaint.
Van Houten described the conduct of certain members as 'disgusting and morally reprehensible' but said prosecutions must be based on evidence. He said group-chat messages cited in the lawsuit were 'crude and vulgar' but had no bearing on consent, and that a screenshot was never provided to his office. Cornell says its police sent the screenshot to the district attorney in November 2024.
The Allegations and the Accused
The former student, named in court papers as Jane Doe, is suing Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity and seven of its members. She alleges she was pressured into taking ketamine and sexually assaulted for hours at the fraternity house in Ithaca on the night of 19 October 2024, when she was 20, and she reported the alleged assault to Cornell police on 8 November 2024.
No arrests have been made. Lawyers for at least three of the men have denied the allegations, with one saying his client made 'an immature comment on Snapchat' but 'did nothing else'. Reports do not include responses from the other four.
Cornell Defends Its Punishments
Cornell has come under scrutiny over how it disciplined the students involved. Doe's complaint says the men were allowed to 'mitigate their conduct by submitting essays', which Cornell denies.
Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations, said none of those charged were offered essays as a sole consequence. 'Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,' he said. Cornell also said the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.
Cornell's president, Michael Kotlikoff, told student government on 29 September that two of the accused were expelled and two suspended for at least two semesters. One had graduated before punishment could be imposed, and two were found not responsible, according to CBS News. The university has supported the district attorney's decision to reopen the criminal investigation
1,200 sexual assault cases were filed at Cornell from 2018 to 2024. Most of those found responsible received minor sanctions that allowed them to remain on campus, such as probation or training. Only 7 ended in expulsion or dismissal.https://t.co/qQ1vUx354U
— Amy Diehl, Ph.D. (@amydiehl) September 30, 2026
State Officials Step In
A spokesperson for New York Attorney General Letitia James confirmed that her office was reviewing Cornell's response to the allegations. Governor Kathy Hochul has called for an independent review by outside counsel, citing serious questions about Cornell's campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting and response.
Doe's civil lawsuit is proceeding separately, and the grand jury will consider whether the evidence supports criminal charges.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, Rape Crisis can be reached on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales. In the US, RAINN can be reached on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
