Matthew Van Houten

She told the investigator, quote, I can say with 100% confidence I was raped, end quote.

The over 120-page transcript of Jane's interview was condensed into a six-page document that was included as part of the campus police investigation, which was later passed on to the Tompkins County DA, Matthew Van Houten.

It's very important to note that the DA never bothered to interview Jane himself and relied solely on this high-level six-page interview summary.

The DA would later claim that in accordance with New York state law, he felt charges could not be brought.

In direct response to Jane Doe's ongoing justice journey, Cornell students have organized multiple protests and demonstrations calling for accountability and systemic change.

And that call for accountability has inspired a step towards it.

Following public anger, backlash, and concern about Cornell University and law enforcement's handling of Jane Doe's case, on Monday, September 28, 2026, D.A. Matthew Van Houten announced the case would be reopened, citing the new information previously outlined.

According to DA Van Houten, the civil filing included previously unknown information, such as Jane Doe's statement in the full interview transcript, where she said she was 100% certain she was raped, the Snapchat conversations, and other important details.

Couple of facts that are important to understand at the f- at the front end.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who initially declined to pursue charges, has said Doe, this is Jane Doe, this is what we're calling the accuser, in a November 2024 sworn statement, did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped, and instead described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as, quote, "voluntary, conscious, and consensual." You can understand when you are a prosecutor, and that is what the victim has alleged, why you wouldn't bring charges, right? If you're not seeking a political outcome, you're ser- seeking one in a court of law when somebody says that, uh, the drug use and sexual conduct that we're talking about here was voluntary, uh, conscious, and consensual pretty much re- removes criminal liability.

Now, she has since revised an awful lot of that.

Um, but from the facts of the matter, she went over to the house, uh, leaving alone around 11:00 p.m. and walking to the Chi Pi fraternity house to meet a friend who was a member of that fraternity.