DA in Cornell University case says he never saw transcript of campus police interview with alleged rape victim
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated he was unaware of a transcript in which an alleged rape victim expressed 100% confidence in her account to Cornell University police. The DA has reopened the investigation following the emergence of this document.
Why it matters
The revelation raises serious questions about communication between university police and local prosecutors, potentially impacting the pursuit of justice in campus sexual assault cases.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten says he never saw a transcript of a conversation between an alleged rape victim and investigators showing what she told Cornell University campus police before his office decided not to bring charges.The transcript, which CBS News New York exclusively obtained from a source, shows the victim told campus police more than three weeks after the alleged assault, "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped.""I'm going to follow up on this because this is news to me," Van Houten told CBS News New York on Tuesday about the transcript.Cornell conducted an internal investigation into the alleged fraternity gang rape that occurred Oct. 19-20, 2024, and led to expulsions, suspensions and other sanctions.
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