In September 2026, a former Cornell University student filed a civil lawsuit alleging that seven fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her for more than four hours in October 2024.

No one was criminally charged at the time.

Since the filing, the case has received renewed scrutiny. A criminal investigation was reopened. Cornell University agreed to an independent outside review of its handling of the allegations. On October 1, 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor, authorizing her to investigate the allegations and, if warranted by the evidence, prosecute offenses and present evidence to a grand jury