Prosecutors in central New York have reopened an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in 2024, prompted by a civil lawsuit filed earlier this month that ignited public outrage.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced the decision, stating his office is now considering whether to pursue criminal charges related to the incident. The move comes after a former Cornell student filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged, assaulted, and gang raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity.

The reopening of the case follows the civil lawsuit's claims, which differ significantly from the alleged victim's initial statement to police two years ago, according to Van Houten. "It's our intention to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe's cooperation," Van Houten told ABC News. "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."

Cornell's Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus following the alleged Oct. 19, 2024, incident. However, no individuals involved faced criminal charges at the time. Van Houten explained that his office declined to press charges in 2024 because the woman's statement did not allege she was drugged without her knowledge or that she did not consent to sexual activities.

"She never says that she was drugged without her knowledge. She admits to taking drugs and alcohol voluntarily and with knowledge," Van Houten stated. "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."

Despite these discrepancies, Van Houten characterized the alleged victim, identified as Jane Doe, as credible. He also noted that neither Jane Doe nor her legal representatives had contacted his office to request a reconsideration of the case or to suggest her initial sworn statement was inaccurate.

Jane Doe's attorney, Thomas P. Giuffra, disputed the district attorney's characterization of his client's initial statement and criticized the initial police investigation. Giuffra stated that speaking with an abuse survivor requires specialized skills that average university police officers may not possess, and that Ms. Doe was never contacted by anyone with such expertise.

Van Houten confirmed that his office had released certain details from Jane Doe's initial sworn statement to the Cornell University Police Department on Monday, though the full scope of this release was not detailed. The district attorney's office plans to work with Jane Doe to re-evaluate the evidence and determine if new information warrants bringing charges before a grand jury.