Cornell police tried to get phone records in Jane Doe’s sex assault investigation. Her lawyer says records never got to DA, tell me about this news today

The case centers on a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a former Cornell University student against the university, Cornell University Police Department (CUPD) officers, and local officials, alleging severe mishandling of her sexual assault report.

Core Developments in the Investigation

• The Investigation and Warrants: Following the student’s report of a sexual assault in an on-campus residence hall, CUPD investigators sought search warrants and subpoenas for electronic records, including cell phone communications and location data tied to the reported incident.

• The Missing Records: The plaintiff’s attorney stated that critical phone records obtained by university police were never forwarded to the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office. Because prosecutors lacked these records, the legal team argues, the criminal case was compromised and ultimately stalled without charges being brought.

• Allegations in the Lawsuit: The lawsuit alleges deliberate indifference, procedural violations, and systemic failures by Cornell and its police department in handling Title IX and criminal investigations. It contends that the failure to transmit subpoenaed evidence to the DA effectively protected the institution’s reputation at the expense of a fair and thorough criminal inquiry.

• Institutional Response: Cornell University has generally contested claims of institutional mishandling in its court filings, maintaining that campus police follow standard investigative procedures and collaborate appropriately with local prosecutorial authorities.