DA in Cornell University Case Says He Never Saw Transcript of Campus Police Interview with Alleged Rape Victim
September 30, 2026 / 10:14 AM EDT / CBS New York
TL;DR
- District Attorney Matthew Van Houten claims he was unaware of a transcript showing an alleged rape victim's statement to campus police.
- The victim stated with "100% confidence I was raped" more than three weeks after the alleged assault.
- Van Houten's office had previously decided not to bring charges, based on a statement from the alleged victim.
- Cornell University conducted an internal investigation resulting in expulsions and suspensions, but no criminal charges were pursued initially.
- The DA has reopened the criminal investigation after learning about the transcript, stating it "changes the landscape."
- The alleged victim described gaps in memory, intoxication, and being physically hit during the night of the alleged assault.
- She stated she was "completely and totally incapacitated" and that parts of the encounter were "coercion."
- The alleged victim's attorney criticized the DA's actions, stating he failed to do a thorough investigation and prosecute.
- Attorneys for two defendants named in a lawsuit deny the charges against their clients.