It's a moral panic, at least in part. Panic explains why due process is ignored and why accusations are considered unassailable. But questioning accusations is not the same as denying them. And while reliving trauma is a risk it can be mitigated by using an intermediary like a lawyer or therapist. Another piece is the increasing insular nature of some institutions. Ideas ricochet within the walled gardens of higher e…
It's generally very simple to find out if someone is lying: just question them 5-6 different times about what happened. No one who is lying or exaggerating keeps their story straight.
I had a friend who was the victim of a false allegation but he fought very hard and people lost their jobs over it because they didn't follow basic investigative procedures. In the end, he was out time, money and peace of mind because someone was vindictive - he wanted to break up with her. It of course helped that he was rich enough to fund a multi-pronged attack.
The woman received no repercussions.