Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) canceled a planned New York City event one day after the Cornell Institute of Politics and Global Affairs announced her appearance, citing the widening fallout from a lawsuit alleging a 2024 gang rape at the university's Chi Phi fraternity house.
A source familiar with the matter said the cancellation was "related to the gang rape situation" at Cornell. The institute had announced the "fully-funded" event Tuesday for Oct. 15 at the ILR NYC Conference Center. By Wednesday afternoon, the RSVP form was closed and the institute confirmed the cancellation.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 14 by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe, alleges she was sexually assaulted and gang raped after being coerced into consuming drugs at the Chi Phi house in 2024. The suit names Cornell University, Chi Phi and other parties as defendants.
Elected officials across New York have seized on the case to condemn the university and law enforcement's response. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) called the allegations "serious and horrific" and said they exposed a "system that is broken." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded an investigation that leaves "no stone unturned."
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a Cornell alumna, told TMZ the "delay in accountability" must end regardless of which university is involved.
Pelosi, who is retiring from Congress at the end of her current term in 2027, has no plans to reschedule the Cornell event, according to the source. Cornell did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
