Cornell ‘rape’ case: Shocking twist as DA reveals campus police failed to share key evidence, ‘this is news to me’

A significant development has emerged in the Cornell sexual assault investigation, as the District Attorney has disclosed that campus law enforcement failed to transmit the complete statement provided by the alleged victim. The undisclosed portion of her account reportedly contained her explicit assertion: "I can say with 100% confidence, I was raped."

The investigation into Cornell's sexual assault incident has taken a turn, as the District Attorney reports not receiving the full transcript of the alleged victim’s statement. (REUTERS)Cornell police failed to share key evidence in ‘rape’ case, DA revealsCBS News procured the transcript documenting Jane Doe's interview conducted with Cornell Campus Police as part of their investigative proceedings in November 2024. During the course of this interview, she said that at a particular juncture, she experienced a state of being “completely and totally incapacitated.”

According to Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, he was not provided access to the complete transcript documenting her two-day interview conducted by Campus Police. His review was limited to the investigation's findings, which contained a summary wherein campus law enforcement officers reported that she described the interaction with fraternity members as voluntary, conscious, and consensual.

Also Read: Who is Cornell rape victim's lawyer? All on Thomas P. Giuffra who represented plaintiffs in Harvey Weinstein, Diddy case

The implication of this account suggests that, if the DA's statement is accurate, Campus Police may have withheld the primary allegation from prosecutorial review—specifically, her assertion that she had been sexually assaulted.

“If she had said those words, we certainly would want to have explored that more. Like I said, that wasn't provided to me,” the DA told CBS News.

The District Attorney said that he would request the transcript and then communicate with Cornell Police.

"Nobody knows this information about the transcript and that gives me something to really dig into because that changes the landscape for me," he stated.

Cornell University announced that its police department has submitted the findings of the institution's investigation to the District Attorney.

A woman initiated civil legal proceedings against the Ivy League institution on 16 September, asserting that she had been administered drugs and sexually assaulted at a fraternity residence located on the university's campus.

She further contended that Cornell University neglected to ensure her safety and failed to impose sufficient disciplinary measures against the individuals responsible.

The individuals in question have been dubbed the “Cornell Seven,” while the plaintiff was referred to as Jane Doe throughout the judicial documentation.

Cornell University has expressed its willingness to support the referral of the matter to a grand jury, while simultaneously disputing the “unfounded” allegations that it had failed to administer appropriate sanctions to those implicated.

Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More