New details have emerged in the Cornell University alleged gang rape lawsuit as the Tompkins County district attorney reopens the criminal case. The district attorney noted discrepancies between the victim’s original statement and the allegations found in the lawsuit.
Fraternity Group Snapchat Video
CBS News New York has obtained additional video evidence from the fraternity’s Snapchat group conversation the night the incident allegedly occurred. A former Cornell student claims she was drugged and assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Messages exchanged in the chat suggest a woman was being discussed for sexual availability. At 1:42 a.m., a message read, “Shop still open?” with a response, “Yea.”
Attorney Thomas Giuffra, representing the woman identified as Jane Doe, criticized the lack of arrests. “Not one of these guys was arrested. Not one. That I can tell you for a fact,” Giuffra stated.
Defense Attorney Statements
Jeremy Saland, representing Scott Kretzschmar, one of the accused, addressed the complaint which implicates seven individuals in sexual assault and rape. Specifically, Kretzschmar faces accusations of pouring ketamine on Jane Doe and snorting it. Saland firmly denied the allegation, citing a hair follicle test proving Kretzschmar had no ketamine in his system. CBS News has not verified this test independently.
Saland stated Kretzschmar saw the Snapchat messages, entered the room briefly, and left, claiming Jane Doe appeared neither undressed nor under distress.
Case Reopened
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation. According to Van Houten, Jane Doe’s sworn statement in November 2024 did not mention being drugged involuntarily or gang-raped. She described her actions as voluntary and consensual.
Giuffra argued the original police report aligns with the lawsuit and believes evidence, like the group chat, wasn’t fully pursued. A senior prosecutor experienced in sex crimes prepares the case for a grand jury. The DA confirmed that Jane Doe could testify and new evidence could be presented.
“We welcome the opportunity and are confident, overwhelmingly so, it will resolve in the same way it already did previously, with no charges,” Saland commented.
University and Legal Reactions
Cornell University expressed support for the DA’s decision and noted previous Title IX investigations led to sanctions. Andrew Miltenberg, representing defendant Gillio Lopes, denied the allegations against his client, emphasizing the difference between the current accusations and past investigations.
“These are serious accusations, but accusations are not proof. Mr. Lopes should be judged on the evidence, not prejudged based on allegations made in a lawsuit or repeated in the media,” Miltenberg stated.
Cornell and legal teams intend to address the issues through the legal process, refraining from further comments at this time.