One of the seven Cornell University fraternity brothers facing allegations of gang raping a fellow student reportedly placed a phone call to a sorority member the following day, according to TMZ.com. The woman, who was present at the Chi Phi house on the night of the alleged assault, told investigators the call was intended to ensure a friend of hers would not discuss what she believed may have occurred.
The sorority member told investigators that one of the accused men contacted her the next day and asked that her friend refrain from saying anything about what she thought might have taken place the previous night, TMZ.com reported, citing CBS News. She relayed the message, and her friend later told investigators the warning took on new meaning when Cornell University circulated an email alert about the sexual assault.
That friend described her reaction to investigators, saying, "It makes a lot more sense ... And it was very concerning," according to TMZ.com.
The woman and her roommate ultimately spoke with the Cornell University Police Department, though she told investigators she was unaware of what became of her statement, TMZ.com reported.
The accused brother initially denied making the call during his interview with investigators, then amended his account a month later in a written correction, stating the conversation concerned not spreading rumors, according to TMZ.com. In that first interview, he also described the fraternity's approach to the rumors as "just deny."
Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten declined to pursue charges, stating that Cornell had provided him only with the victim's sworn statement and Snapchat group chat messages, TMZ.com reported. He subsequently reopened the case and indicated he intended to bring evidence before a grand jury.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has since assigned Attorney General Letitia James' office to take over the matter, expressing a lack of confidence in the Tompkins County district attorney, according to TMZ.com.