Schumer calls for review of 'horrifying' Cornell rape case: 'No stone unturned'

This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. End of dialog window. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for a review of the alleged assault of a Cornell University student during a 2024 fraternity party, saying the case was "horrifying." "The allegations of sexual assault and rape at Cornell University are horrifying and deserve a thorough investigation that leaves no stone unturned," Schumer wrote Wednesday on social media. "There must now be a truly independent and exhaustive investigation — not only into what happened, but into how this case was handled from the moment she came forward." "Every fact must be uncovered. Every failure must be examined. Wherever wrongdoing occurred, there must be accountability," he continued. "She had the courage to come forward. No survivor should have to summon that courage — and then fight the system to make it respond." Schumer — a Senator for the same state the assault occurred in — noted that "sexual assault remains far too common on college campuses across America," attributing this to a "culture of silence and complicity" that "must be confronted." The case was brought by a former Cornell student who alleged she was drugged with ketamine and assaulted for hours by seven members of the university's Chi Phi fraternity. A lawsuit brought by the woman, identified as Jane Doe, included a Snapchat screenshot from the night of the incident where a man messaged a group chat saying there was "free p---- upstairs." Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced his office would take a second look at the case after prosecutors decided not to seek criminal charges against any of the seven accused. Houten defended himself, saying details in Jane Doe's new lawsuit were "dramatically different" than her statement three weeks after the assault in 2024, according to ABC News. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said earlier this week she supported Houten's decision to reopen the case and called for an independent investigation into Cornell's response to the allegations. When the case was reported in 2024, Cornell investigated the incident, but none of the accused faced criminal charges. The university noted students were sanctioned, according to PBS News, and the Chi Phi fraternity was banned from campus. An attorney for one of the seven accused said his client never took part in any assault. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.