Letitia James Named Special Prosecutor in Cornell Sexual Assault Case
publishers 39articles 41first reported 2 Oct, 01:08 UTCdeveloping since 2 Oct · 12 editions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to investigate allegations that a former Cornell University student was sexually assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in October 2024.
Hochul issued an executive order Thursday requiring James to investigate the alleged assault. The attorney general will investigate the allegations and may present evidence to a grand jury and prosecute any resulting charges.
Hochul said recently released information had undermined her confidence in the earlier investigation by Cornell University Police and Van Houten’s office. At a Friday news conference, she criticized the district attorney for not interviewing the woman or obtaining the complete transcript of her police interview.
Van Houten declined to bring charges in 2024, saying a sworn statement provided by Cornell police did not allege that the woman had been drugged or forced and described the sexual conduct as consensual. He reopened the investigation this week after the woman filed a civil lawsuit accusing seven men of assault and naming Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity and others as defendants. Lawyers for two of the men have denied allegations against their clients.
Cornell has said it indefinitely suspended Chi Phi and imposed sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, following a disciplinary process. The university has also commissioned an independent review of its handling of the allegations.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 6 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 6 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
- 41
- Given to the writer
- 6, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 6
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: The story needs two details tightened to match the sources on what Hochul's order did and what she criticized at the news conference. - "Hochul issued an executive order Thursday transferring control of the criminal investigation from Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to James.": The sources say Hochul issued an executive order appointing James special prosecutor and requiring her to investigate; saying it transferred control to James is supported generally, but the order itself is described as requiring investigation/appointment rather than specifically transferring control. - "At a Friday news conference, she criticized authorities for not interviewing the woman or obtaining the complete transcript of her police interview.": The sources say Hochul asked why the district attorney did not interview the woman or anyone else, or request the full transcript; the story broadens this to authorities and states it as not obtaining the transcript.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Letitia James Named Special Prosecutor in Cornell Sexual Assault Case
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to investigate allegations that a former Cornell University student was sexually assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in October 2024.
Hochul issued an executive order Thursday transferringrequiring controlJames ofto investigate the criminalalleged investigation from Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to James.assault. The attorney general will investigate the allegations and may present evidence to a grand jury and prosecute any resulting charges.
Hochul said recently released information had undermined her confidence in the earlier investigation by Cornell University Police and Van Houten’s office. At a Friday news conference, she criticized authoritiesthe district attorney for not interviewing the woman or obtaining the complete transcript of her police interview.
Van Houten declined to bring charges in 2024, saying a sworn statement provided by Cornell police did not allege that the woman had been drugged or forced and described the sexual conduct as consensual. He reopened the investigation this week after the woman filed a civil lawsuit accusing seven men of assault and naming Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity and others as defendants. Lawyers for two of the men have denied allegations against their clients.
Cornell has said it indefinitely suspended Chi Phi and imposed sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, following a disciplinary process. The university has also commissioned an independent review of its handling of the allegations.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →