Cornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

Matthew Van Houten’s tenure has included both routine criminal cases and episodes that have drawn public scrutiny.
A red banner for Cornell University is displayed in a classroom
A former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe alleges seven Chi Phi fraternity brothers sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in October 2024.Dhiraj Singh / Bloomberg via Getty

The case of a former Cornell University student who alleges she was raped by fraternity members in 2024 has cast a harsh national spotlight on the top prosecutor in Tompkins County, a small upstate New York community anchored by the Ivy League school.

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