Drafted correspondence reviewed from mid-November 2024 reveals that Cornell University campus police prepared data preservation requests for major telecom carriers Verizon and T-Mobile. The letters, drafted approximately one week after a student now referred to as Jane Doe reported being sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity, stated that investigators believed specific phone numbers could hold crucial evidence. The documents instructed the companies to preserve all text messages, call logs, emails, and media files for 30 days pending the arrival of a formal search warrant. According to the drafts, addressed to Verizon and T-Mobile on November 15, 2024,, Cornell police were “investigating a sexual assault incident, wherein it is believed that the account/phone number listed below may contain evidenc. Much of the scrutiny has centered on how Cornell and the Tompkins County DA handled the initial investigation after Doe went to campus police to report the alleged rape in 2024, weeks after the incident.
However, uncertainty remains regarding whether these letters were officially transmitted, if subpoena follow-ups occurred, or if Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten was made aware of the potential phone evidence during his initial assessment. The emergence of these drafts has intensified scrutiny over what files and communications were shared between campus investigators and local prosecutors before the District Attorney’s office originally declined to pursue criminal charges in late 2024.
Jane Doe’s legal representative, Thomas Giuffra, stated that his client had recorded several phone conversations with the individuals allegedly involved in the incident, but asserted that these records did not reach the prosecutor’s desk. While university officials previously asserted they had shared all relevant investigative materials with the district attorney, Van Houten countered that his office was never provided with the extensive interview transcripts or details regarding the phone records in 2024, only learning of the broader allegations when a civil lawsuit was filed in September. Has requested a copy of the records. According to on State of the Union with Jake Tapper on Sunday, Jane Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra,, He hopes the attorney general will be able to get to the bottom of this.
The civil complaint filed by Doe names Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven individual fraternity members, alleging that the school failed to protect her or adequately hold the perpetrators accountable. According to the court filings, Doe had consumed approximately ten standard drinks within a three-hour window prior to arriving at the fraternity house, leaving her visibly intoxicated and unable to consent. During her initial contact with campus authorities, police logs recorded her statement that she had been assaulted by eight to ten men. She later described the experience as terrifying, saying she felt completely incapacitated and surrounded.
The initial criminal inquiry has faced criticism for its handling of the victim’s statements and evidence collection. Reports show that campus police conducted an hours-long interview with Doe, which was subsequently condensed into a six-page written statement. While Doe signed off on this summary after making handwritten corrections, the full, detailed transcript was not forwarded to the District Attorney’s office. Based solely on the shorter document, prosecutors determined at the time that the threshold for criminal charges had not been met. Governor Kathy Hochul commented on the situation, calling the revelations surrounding the handling of the case horrifying and emphasizing that victims seeking help must never be dismissed. According to kathy Hochul, In a letter obtained by. “No young person who comes forward seeking help should ever be ignored or dismissed.”.
Further scrutiny has been directed at Cornell Health services. The civil lawsuit states that Doe visited the campus health center a few days after the incident to seek treatment for a urinary tract infection. Despite her disclosing the assault, the medical professional on duty reportedly failed to offer a forensic rape examination, advising her only to speak with a counselor. Her attorney noted that Doe was initially in a state of severe shock, which delayed her comprehensive understanding of the event.
In response to growing campus protests and calls for accountability, the university’s leadership released a video address. Promising more transparency and a thorough review of the institution’s response, officials acknowledged that the allegations highlighted deeply troubling issues concerning party culture, substance use, and student safety. The administration also expressed support for reevaluating the role of Greek life on campus. Approximately one-third of the undergraduate student body at Cornell is affiliated with the school’s 50-plus fraternities and sororities. The urgency of the issue is underscored by the university’s own 2025 campus survey, which revealed that 35 percent of undergraduate female students reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact since enrolling at the institution.