Cornell Chi Phi Case: Ketamine Bombshell, Trump, Rodrigo

A woman suing as “Jane Doe” alleges seven Chi Phi fraternity members drugged her with ketamine and assaulted her for hours at Cornell in October 2024. No charges were filed at the time, but after her September 2026 lawsuit the case was reopened, NY AG Letitia James was named special prosecutor, and new evidence of drug activity at the house surfaced — drawing in Donald Trump and celebrities.

What happened at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house?

According to a 101-page civil complaint filed on September 16, 2026 in New York County Supreme Court, a then-20-year-old former Cornell student says she walked into the Chi Phi fraternity house at 107 Edgemoor Lane in Ithaca at around 11 p.m. on October 19, 2024, after a night of drinking that left her heavily intoxicated.

Inside, the suit alleges, two fraternity members pressured her into snorting a substance they described as ketamine — a powerful sedative — and gave her more alcohol. The complaint says the assault stretched into the early hours of October 20, ending at roughly 5:45 a.m. when she lost consciousness. At 1:42 a.m., one of the men allegedly posted a sexually explicit message in the fraternity’s “Chi Phi Actives” Snapchat group, inviting other members upstairs; the lawsuit says more men then entered the room and the assault continued.

Jane Doe reported the incident to Cornell University police on November 8, 2024, after requesting a rape kit at an Ithaca emergency room the day before. The seven men — current or former students collectively dubbed the “Cornell 7” — are named in the lawsuit, along with Cornell University, Chi Phi organizations, and her former sorority. Attorneys for three of the seven men have publicly denied any criminal wrongdoing; the others have not responded to the accusations.

What is the new ketamine evidence?

Records released this week show Cornell knew the Chi Phi house had a drug problem before the alleged assault.

According to the New York Post’s review of the records, Cornell University Police responded to the Chi Phi house at about 1:05 a.m. on October 19, 2024 — hours before Jane Doe arrived — and made a drug-related arrest, referring an individual to the school’s Office of Student Conduct. A newly released Cornell Title IX hearing decision also documented a ketamine overdose at the house on or about October 18, the day before the alleged assault.

“Ketamine was a substance used by multiple individuals in the Chi Phi house at the time,” the hearing document states, per the Cornell Daily Sun. The lawsuit alleges Cornell “knew or should have known” about the fraternity’s ketamine history. The revelations raise fresh questions about why Chi Phi was not suspended sooner — the chapter was only put on interim suspension on November 8, 2024, when Doe reported the assault.

Why was the case reopened?

The original 2024 investigation ended without criminal charges. Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten said he declined to prosecute based on a six-page signed statement compiled by Cornell police — a statement he said “did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped.” His office never interviewed the woman with a trained detective or prosecutor.

That changed on September 28, when Van Houten announced he was reopening the case and would seek a grand jury review. Then, on October 1, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order appointing Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor, saying she had “lost faith” in the local district attorney’s ability to oversee the case. Hochul said she was “deeply disturbed” by how Cornell’s police handled the investigation.

James announced the case is now an active criminal investigation, saying her office would lead “a process New Yorkers can trust, guided by the facts and the law.”

What did Trump say about the Cornell case?

President Donald Trump weighed in on October 2, while leaving the White House for a rally in Alabama. Asked about James’s appointment as special prosecutor, Trump said he felt “badly” for the accused students:

“Letitia James is a corrupt person. She’s totally corrupt and I can’t imagine… I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake,” the president told reporters.

The criticism reflects Trump’s long history with the New York attorney general, who won a civil fraud case against him in 2024. The White House exchange turned a campus case into a national political flashpoint overnight.

What did Olivia Rodrigo and other celebrities say?

Singer Olivia Rodrigo posted a blistering statement to her Instagram Stories on October 3, siding with the accuser:

“Shame on Cornell and on every institution who protects rapists and abusers over women. I stand with Jane Doe. Her bravery reverberates across the country and the crimes against her will not go unpunished,” the 23-year-old Grammy winner wrote. “What she lived through matters, and so does the failure of those who could have intervened but chose not to. She deserves answers, consequences, and lasting change.”

Actress Florence Pugh was also among the celebrities publicly reacting to the case, calling the allegations “horrific,” according to Hollywood Life. Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff addressed the campus in an 8-minute video message, speaking directly to Jane Doe’s account, per TMZ.

What punishment did Cornell give the accused students?

Cornell opened a formal Title IX investigation on January 14, 2025. Over hearings held May 2–29, investigators conducted more than 50 interviews. According to CNN, four of the seven men acknowledged sexual contact with Doe but said it was consensual; the others denied participating. Their accounts differed from each other and from Doe’s account to police.

The university imposed a range of sanctions, per Doe’s attorney: two of the men were expelled, while others received suspensions, mandatory workshops, or written assignments. The Chi Phi chapter was closed and remains barred from campus.

FAQ

Who are the “Cornell 7”?
Seven current or former Cornell students — members of the Chi Phi fraternity — named as defendants in Jane Doe’s September 2026 civil lawsuit.

Has anyone been charged with a crime?
No. The case was reopened on September 28, and NY AG Letitia James is now special prosecutor leading an active criminal investigation, with a grand jury review expected.

Why is Donald Trump commenting on a campus case?
The special prosecutor is Letitia James, his longtime legal adversary who won a civil fraud case against him in 2024. Trump said on October 2 that the accused “won’t get a fair shake” under her oversight.

What happens next?
A grand jury review is expected, AG James’s office is running an active criminal investigation, and Jane Doe’s civil lawsuit is proceeding in New York County Supreme Court.

Sources

• A timeline of the Cornell gang rape allegations — CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/03/us/cornell-rape-case-timeline-hnk?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta
• Trump Says He Feels ‘Badly’ for Cornell 7, Claims They ‘Won’t Get a Fair Shake’ from Letitia James — People: https://people.com/trump-says-he-feels-badly-for-cornell-7-insults-letitia-james-12157543
• Cornell knew of drug arrest, overdose at Chi Phi frat before alleged gang rape: records — New York Post: https://nypost.com/2026/10/03/us-news/cornell-knew-of-drug-arrest-overdose-at-chi-phi-frat-before-alleged-gang-rape-records/

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.

Featured image: 颐园居, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons