Polymarket removes bets on whether Cornell sexual assault suspects will face felony charges

Polymarket has removed a contract that let users bet on whether any of seven men accused of sexually assaulting or exploiting a Cornell student in 2024 will be charged with a felony sex crime, after more than $450,000 was wagered. The contract had been available since Sept. 30 and was set to close Jan. 31. A Polymarket spokesperson said Tuesday the market concerned whether the government would act, and that the company had heard the public and removed it. Its U.S. exchange is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which bans trading tied to activity unlawful under federal or state law. The student, called Jane Doe, is suing Cornell over its handling of her case; no charges have been brought.

Right-leaning outlets had not reported the story at the time of writing; left-leaning and alternative outlets had. Alternative source Al Jazeera uses the case to argue universities fail assault victims, citing Jane Doe's lawsuit and a 2025 Cornell survey. AP reports the contract's removal. Left-leaning CBS News centers on the removal, the wager total, Polymarket's statement and criticism of celebrity promoters such as LeBron James.