Trump expresses sympathy for men accused in Cornell sexual assault case

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he feels sympathy for the seven men charged in a civil lawsuit alleging a gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house, adding that they may not receive a fair trial. He criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James, describing her as corrupt, and suggested that her involvement could prejudice the defendants.

The lawsuit was filed by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” who alleges she was given ketamine and sexually assaulted by fraternity members at the Chi Phi Xi Chapter house on Oct. 19, 2024. She reported the incident to campus police on Nov. 8, 2024. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially closed the case, citing campus police information that indicated consensual activity, and no criminal charges were filed.

Governor Kathy Hochul appointed AG James as a special prosecutor on Thursday, citing concerns about the handling of the investigation. James said, ">Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly. That is the promise of our justice system, and my office will honor that promise."

The university suspended the seven men pending a Title IX investigation; some were later expelled or suspended, and the fraternity chapter was closed and barred from campus. The civil complaint includes Snapchat messages among fraternity members discussing the alleged assault and statements from the victim describing the experience as “debilitating.”

Trump has previously commented on high-profile sexual assault cases and has a history of legal conflicts with AG James, including a state lawsuit that forced the dissolution of his charitable foundation and a separate case alleging financial misrepresentations by the Trump Organization.