New York attorney general takes over inquiry into Cornell rape allegations
publishers 30articles 39first reported 30 Sep, 21:52 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 12 editions
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor to investigate allegations that a former Cornell University student was drugged and raped by fraternity members in 2024. James said her office would gather evidence, interview witnesses and pursue prosecutions if warranted.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleges in a civil lawsuit that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged her with ketamine and assaulted her at a fraternity house. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, said transcripts of her sworn statement show she repeatedly told Cornell police she had been sexually assaulted, including saying, “I can say with 100 percent confidence that I was raped.” The New York Times reported that a police statement omitted her claim that she was raped.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten had said the 2024 statement did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped. He later told WSKG that he had not read her full account. Local authorities said they declined to prosecute in 2024 because her testimony did not establish a lack of consent.
Gov. Kathy Hochul criticized the police and prosecutor’s handling of the case and said it had undermined her confidence in the district attorney. Cornell has rejected claims that it failed to discipline those involved, while agreeing to an independent review. The university shut down the fraternity and temporarily suspended the accused students; several were later expelled.
Giuffra also said both he and the woman have received threats connected to her lawsuit. Cornell students raised concerns about safety and sexual violence during a public hearing organized by the university’s Student Assembly.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 5 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 80 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 30
- Source articles
- 39
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 5
- This version written
- 80 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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 →