AOC’s Cornell Rape Claims Clash With Lawsuit and School

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s retelling of a sexual assault case tied to Cornell University has drawn scrutiny because several of her claims go beyond what is described in the underlying civil complaint, while Cornell says her description of the school’s disciplinary response is inaccurate.

Speaking at a town hall hosted by More Perfect University in Ithaca, New York, on Sunday, the New York Democrat discussed allegations made by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe. The student filed a civil complaint last month alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in October 2024.

Ocasio-Cortez said, “Seven men drugged and gang raped a 20-year-old woman.” She also said the woman was lured into a fraternity house, drugged with ketamine, and that seven men “took turns gang raping her for seven hours” after messages were posted in a group chat saying she was incapacitated.

The civil complaint, however, does not mirror all of those details. The 101-page lawsuit names Cornell, fraternity-related entities, seven individual defendants and other defendants. It alleges that Doe arrived at the Chi Phi fraternity house intoxicated, was pressured into taking ketamine, and was subjected to sexual acts without her consent. It also says one fraternity member posted a sexually explicit message about her in a fraternity Snapchat group. According to the complaint, the incident ended at about 5:45 a.m.

Ocasio-Cortez also sharply criticized Cornell’s handling of the matter, saying the university expelled two students and made the others write essays as punishment. She said the case showed how “the culture of rape, sexual assault, and pedophilia is protected in elite institutions across the United States and including Cornell University in this instance.”

Cornell disputes that characterization. The university said its months-long investigation resulted in a range of sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, and that no respondent was required to write an essay as the only consequence. Cornell also said the Chi Phi chapter was closed and barred from campus.

The civil complaint does include an allegation that several students who received temporary suspensions were given an opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to the university. Cornell, however, says any suggestion that the school imposed only minimal punishment is false.

Criminal review reopened

The civil case has unfolded alongside a renewed review by prosecutors. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office reviewed Doe’s sworn statement in November 2024 and initially concluded that the facts in that statement did not support criminal charges under New York law.

Van Houten said Doe’s 2024 sworn statement “did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped.” He also said the statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as “voluntary, conscious, and consensual.” Even so, he announced that the investigation has been reopened and that a senior prosecutor with experience in sex-crime cases is preparing the matter for presentation to a Tompkins County grand jury.

That grand jury could consider Doe’s testimony along with new evidence raised in the civil complaint. No criminal charges have been announced.

Attorneys for several accused fraternity members have denied wrongdoing. Scott Kretzschmar, who represents one of the students, said his client welcomes the renewed investigation and had no sexual contact with Doe.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor in the case. Cornell said it supports the reopened investigation and pushed back on what it called a false narrative about the university’s response, arguing that such claims could discourage reporting and make survivors feel less supported.

Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office and Cornell for additional comment.