Hochul Appoints Letitia James to Lead Cornell Sexual Assault Investigation
publishers 34articles 44first reported 28 Sep, 17:14 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 14 editions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the investigation of an alleged 2024 gang rape involving Cornell University students, saying she had lost confidence in the local district attorney’s handling of the case.
A former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in September 2026 against Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity and seven former students. She alleges she was drugged and repeatedly raped at the fraternity house on October 19, 2024, when she was 20. Attorneys for some of the accused men have denied the allegations.
The original criminal investigation closed without charges in 2024. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has said the woman’s sworn statement did not include an allegation that she was involuntarily drugged and unable to consent. Hochul said the woman told campus police she believed she had been raped, but that account was not included in the information Cornell police sent prosecutors. Van Houten reopened the case after the lawsuit was filed.
James said her office would gather evidence and conduct interviews, adding that a comprehensive investigation would take time. Cornell said it supports her appointment and is committed to an independent external review of its response. The university has said it investigated the allegations, barred Chi Phi and imposed disciplinary measures.
The case has also prompted New York lawmakers to form a working group to review sexual-assault laws, including a rule that does not classify people who voluntarily consume alcohol or drugs as mentally incapacitated even when they become too intoxicated to consent.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 6 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 96 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- 8, 3 with the article's own text
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- This version written
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