Sunny Hostin defends prosecutor in Cornell rape case
1 october 2026 в 23:02
The host of «The View», - Sunny Hostin, defended the district attorney who chose not to file charges against several members of a Cornell University fraternity accused of gang-raping a student in 2024.
During the broadcast on September 29, Hostin noted that she had a statement written by the victim, which consists of several pages. She emphasized that under New York state law, voluntary consumption of alcohol or drugs is not considered legal grounds for determining the inability to consent to sexual acts. Hostin also expressed understanding as to why Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten did not file charges against the group of students following the alleged assault.
Hostin added that the victim, in her statement, agreed to participate in two threesomes, and one of the young men even asked the others to leave the room. At the same time, she noted that three of the young men did not touch her. However, Hostin stressed that the new lawsuit from the victim should be thoroughly investigated.
The victim, known as Jane Doe, has sued Cornell and seven fraternity members, claiming that she was drugged and sexually assaulted for at least seven hours in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York. There have been no arrests in connection with the case, but the district attorney announced a reopening of the case in light of the civil lawsuit and leaked messages from a group on Snapchat that used a derogatory term for female genitalia.
The attorneys representing the accused have categorically denied the allegations in the lawsuit. Van Houten stated that Jane Doe’s statement did not claim that she was raped or drugged against her will, and that his office could not base its actions on allegations in a civil lawsuit filed nearly two years after the events.
Jane Doe’s attorney disputed the characterization of her initial statement and pointed out that authorities had never contacted his client for further investigation. Cornell University stated that it takes allegations of sexual assault seriously and that its offices conducted an investigation in accordance with university policies.
During the broadcast on September 29, Hostin noted that she had a statement written by the victim, which consists of several pages. She emphasized that under New York state law, voluntary consumption of alcohol or drugs is not considered legal grounds for determining the inability to consent to sexual acts. Hostin also expressed understanding as to why Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten did not file charges against the group of students following the alleged assault.
Hostin added that the victim, in her statement, agreed to participate in two threesomes, and one of the young men even asked the others to leave the room. At the same time, she noted that three of the young men did not touch her. However, Hostin stressed that the new lawsuit from the victim should be thoroughly investigated.
The victim, known as Jane Doe, has sued Cornell and seven fraternity members, claiming that she was drugged and sexually assaulted for at least seven hours in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York. There have been no arrests in connection with the case, but the district attorney announced a reopening of the case in light of the civil lawsuit and leaked messages from a group on Snapchat that used a derogatory term for female genitalia.
The attorneys representing the accused have categorically denied the allegations in the lawsuit. Van Houten stated that Jane Doe’s statement did not claim that she was raped or drugged against her will, and that his office could not base its actions on allegations in a civil lawsuit filed nearly two years after the events.
Jane Doe’s attorney disputed the characterization of her initial statement and pointed out that authorities had never contacted his client for further investigation. Cornell University stated that it takes allegations of sexual assault seriously and that its offices conducted an investigation in accordance with university policies.
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
