Matthew Van Houten

“multiple prosecutors and criminal investigators reviewed Jane Doe’s statement and correctly determined the alleged facts as set forth in the statement do not constitute a crime.”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-11-01

Van Houten responded to Jane Doe's civil lawsuit filed nearly two years after she initially reported her allegations to law enforcement.

“The point is not about defending anything. It's is there some way that we can do better that some independent body will tell us that we can do?”

Matthew Van Houten · said 2026-10-20 · reported 2026-10-21

Van Houten spoke during the county legislature meeting about the review of his office.

“Jane Doe's sworn statement in November of 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped. On the contrary, Jane Doe's statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual,”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-21

Van Houten defended his handling of the case in a written statement last month.

“ And in that sense, I'm definitely in favor of it, and we'll cooperate with it. I don't know what it looks like, but absolutely, I'm in favor of that. Because the point is to do the best job that we can, and if the evidence-based practices do evolve, then which they do, then that's something that we have an obligation to pursue.”

Matthew Van Houten · said 2026-10-20 · reported 2026-10-21

Van Houten expressed willingness to cooperate with the review during the legislature meeting.

“I am 100% in favor of transparency and absolutely willing to cooperate with whatever it's called, whether it's an audit or review,”

Matthew Van Houten · said 2026-10-20 · reported 2026-10-21

Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten said he would cooperate with the independent review during the legislature meeting.

“changes the landscape for me.”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-10

Van Houten told CBS News that the fuller police interview contained information that altered his perspective on the case.

“changes the landscape for me.”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-05

Van Houten said the existence of the fuller transcript changes the landscape for him.

“That wasn’t information that I had,”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-05

Van Houten was presented by CBS News with a fuller transcript of Doe's police interviews that he said his office had never received.

“It has become clear that we were not provided the full picture by the university.”

Matthew Van Houten · said 2026-10-02 · reported 2026-10-02

Van Houten, who previously led the investigation, issued a statement supporting the new investigation by the Attorney General.

“While I generally refrain from commenting publicly on criminal investigations, the community outrage stemming from the incomplete news and social media coverage requires that I provide an answer to why the investigation resulted in a lack of criminal charges,”

Matthew Van Houten · said 2026-09-28 · reported 2026-10-02

Van Houten released a statement defending his office's past decision not to seek charges in the Cornell gang-rape case amid community outrage over incomplete news and social media coverage.

“We want to reexamine whether there's additional evidence that we were not aware of in November of 2024, that exists now that would change our assessment of the case and would result in the grand jury finding that there was criminal conduct.”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28

Van Houten explained that prosecutors want to determine if new evidence exists that could lead a grand jury to find criminal conduct.

“It's our intention to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe's cooperation,”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28

Van Houten told ABC News that his office intends to present the reopened Cornell fraternity case to a grand jury.

“She never says that she was drugged without her knowledge. She admits to taking drugs and alcohol voluntarily and with knowledge. She does not allege that she was forced to engage in any acts. She does not say that she was physically helpless or unconscious or incapacitated at any point during the time at the fraternity house,”

Matthew Van Houten · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28

Van Houten described why his office declined to bring charges in 2024, citing the woman's initial statement to police.