For nearly two years, the criminal question surrounding an alleged sexual assault at Cornell University appeared settled. Then the allegations became national news.
On Monday, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced that his office would revisit allegations that a former Cornell student was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. The decision followed a September 14 civil lawsuit that brought new attention—and substantially different allegations—to the case.
Although reopening the case does not prove a crime occurred, especially given that no criminal charges have been announced, the development raises a simple question. Why did it take this long and this much media attention for authorities to take another look?
To be as deferential as possible: because sexual assault charges are hard enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt when the women was caught on camera shouting “help, I’m being raped!”
To phrase it as every politician who challenges the local DA for the rest of his career: because Matthew Van Houten (D,WF) is a sexist asshole who didn’t do his fucking job and investigate a crime.
To phrase it as the local Democratic and Working Families parties will when challenged: because the county is dominated by that elitist ivy league school and the corrupt rich treat embarrassment worse than they do rape.