On Friday, a CBS News‑obtained transcript surfaced, chronicling a November 14‑15, 2024 interview between Cornell University Police and Jane Doe, a student who alleges she was raped by members of the Chi Phi fraternity during a party.
The transcript records Doe describing a consensual start that devolved into coercion after she drank alcohol and ketamine, stating she was ‘completely and totally incapacitated’ and that she was ‘100% confident’ she was raped.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten admitted he had never seen the transcript before his office dismissed the case, citing a six‑page sworn statement that, in his view, did not meet New York’s criminal definition of rape.
With the new evidence, Van Houten said he will review the transcript and could bring the matter before a grand jury, a move that may prompt lawmakers like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz to push for reforms to New York’s voluntary‑intoxication rule.
Cornell police claim they had shared all investigatory information with the DA in 2024, but it remains unclear whether the transcript was part of that package.
The case, which has already prompted a civil suit against the university and seven fraternity members, underscores the tension between legal thresholds and survivor advocacy.