The Cornell 7: DA Reopens the Case — What We Know

UPDATE (Oct. 5, 2026): Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Oct. 1 appointing Attorney General Letitia James special prosecutor, saying the Tompkins County DA did not interview the former student or request the full transcript of her police interview. The DA says he relied on a six-page Cornell police summary and was "not provided the full picture by the University." Cornell says it supports the appointment and an independent external review of its handling. No one has been charged and no dates are set. This replaces the DA's timeline below (ABC News, NBC News, NPR). UPDATE (Sept. 29, 2026): The DA said he hoped to present the case to a grand jury within about 45 days. Attorneys for two men named in the civil suit deny the allegations (CBS News, NBC News, WBNG). What We Know: only what police, courts and official statements have confirmed. No speculation. Series playlist:    • What We Know: True Crime Cases, Confirmed ...   CHAPTERS 0:00 The Cornell 7 0:19 The allegation 0:39 What Cornell did 0:50 The outcome 1:16 No charges 1:28 The case reopens 1:52 What happens next UPDATED SEPT. 28, 2026: The DA said he was reopening the case. He says her first statement to police in November 2024 did not allege she was drugged against her will; her attorney disputes that. Cornell said it supports the DA's decision. [ABC News; CBS New York; CNY Central; Associated Press; Cornell statement, Sept. 28, 2026] A former Cornell University student, identified in court papers only as Jane Doe, has filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in Ithaca, NY, in October 2024. The case is known online as "the Cornell 7." These are allegations in a civil lawsuit. They have not been proven in court, no one has been criminally charged, and we do not name the people accused. WHAT'S CONFIRMED • Nov. 8, 2024: Cornell temporarily suspends the Chi Phi Xi chapter and "a number of students." [Cornell University statement, Nov. 26, 2024; The Cornell Daily Sun] • November 2024: She reports to campus police, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. (Reports differ on the exact date, so we give the month only.) • Nov. 26, 2024: Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff says the behavior outlined in the allegations "is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated within our community." [Cornell University statement] • After that: A Title IX investigation follows. Cornell later creates a presidential task force on campus sexual assault. [The Cornell Daily Sun; Law Commentary] • The Tompkins County District Attorney's office says it reviewed the police investigation and found "insufficient evidence to support criminal charges." [CBS New York; Law Commentary] • Sept. 2026: The lawsuit is filed in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan against Cornell, local and national Chi Phi organizations, seven current or former members, and others. It seeks damages. [CBS New York; Law Commentary; AP] • Sept. 21, 2026: Cornell says it handled the case "consistent with university policies," that federal privacy law bars it from discussing individual students, and that the chapter "remains barred from our campus." [Cornell University statement; The Cornell Daily Sun] • Sept. 28, 2026: Cornell says its Title IX hearing panel "issued a range of sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions," and none of those charged under its code got essays "as a sole consequence." [Cornell University statement; CNY Central; AP] WHAT WE DON'T KNOW / WHAT'S DISPUTED • Discipline: the plaintiff's attorney says only two of the seven were expelled, and the lawsuit says others were allowed to "mitigate" their conduct by writing essays. Cornell disputes the essays claim and does not say which sanction any individual received. [CBS New York; Law Commentary; Cornell University] • Whether the Attorney General's office will present the case to a grand jury, and when, has not been announced. • None of the allegations has been tested in court. The men named in the suit have not yet presented their side there. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Still no charges. A special prosecutor, Attorney General Letitia James, now leads the criminal investigation, and the civil suit is at its start. We'll update this as the case moves. SOURCES Cornell University statement (Nov. 26, 2024): https://statements.cornell.edu/2024/2... Cornell University statement (Sept. 21, 2026): https://statements.cornell.edu/2026/2... Cornell University statement (Sept. 28, 2026): https://statements.cornell.edu/2026/2... ABC News (Sept. 28, 2026) CBS New York (Sept. 2026) Associated Press (Sept. 28, 2026) The Cornell Daily Sun (Sept. 2026) Allegations in a civil lawsuit, not proven in court. No one has been criminally charged or found liable. We do not name or show the people accused or identify the woman who filed the suit. Nothing from that night is depicted. If you or someone you know ha