Kelles questions how Cornell police obtained Jane Doe's statement
Anna KellesNew York State Assembly member and ex-officio Cornell trustee
Kelles says the signed statement should have been followed up rather than taken as final, questions how Cornell police obtained it, and supports independent review and trauma-informed interviewing.
“I felt like it would have been good to follow up and not just take that statement as she signed it”
Interview
Where this statement fits
Did Cornell adequately discipline the students named in the Cornell 7 lawsuit?
A former Cornell student alleges that seven Chi Phi members sexually assaulted her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled the aftermath. The Cornell Daily Sun's editorial board and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the university's response. Cornell says its Title IX process resulted in expulsions and suspensions, and that essays were not the sole consequence for any student found responsible. AP subsequently reported individual sanctions and housing concerns.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
Kelles supports independent review and questions how Cornell University Police Department officers obtained the signed statement. The article gives no interview date and reports an earlier Instagram video.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The article gives no interview date, so its November 1 publication is the first documented public appearance of these remarks. The interview preceded Sally Yates' appointment, and the article reports an earlier Instagram video. The statement is the six-page account written by Cornell police and signed by Jane Doe.
After the quotation
She adds that it is not known how the statement was obtained or what questions were asked. That passage closes the article.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Kelles criticizes the investigation and institutional response rather than treating the signed statement as conclusive.
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- People and groups discussed
- Cornell University
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The Dispute Index. "Kelles questions how Cornell police obtained Jane Doe's statement". First published: 2026-11-04. Last updated: 2026-11-04. https://disputeindex.com/events/8184-kelles-says-the-signed-statement-should-have-been