New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of an alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell University, taking over from the local district attorney amid concerns about the original handling of the case. The investigation follows renewed scrutiny after a civil lawsuit was filed and questions arose about the thoroughness of the initial inquiry.
- Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Letitia James as special prosecutor via executive order.
- The case involves a woman alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted at Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.
- Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially closed the criminal investigation without charges but reopened it after new information emerged.
- Governor Hochul criticized the original investigation for failing to fully interview the accuser and others involved.
- Cornell University has suspended the fraternity, conducted an internal investigation, and agreed to an independent review of its handling of the allegations.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul Taps James After Losing Faith in Local DA’s Handling of Cornell Rape Case
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor in the investigation of an alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell University, taking the case out of the hands of the local district attorney after mounting questions about how the allegations were originally investigated.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Thursday appointing James’ office to oversee the investigation. If the evidence warrants charges, the attorney general’s office will also have authority to present the case to a grand jury.
“The young woman at the center of this case deserves to know that every fact will be examined and justice pursued,” Hochul said.
James said her office was prepared to conduct an investigation “guided by the facts and the law.”
“Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly,” James said. “The Governor has entrusted my office with this investigation, and we do not take that responsibility lightly.”
Hochul Says Cornell Accuser Was ‘Failed’
The case centers on a woman identified as Jane Doe in court records who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple men at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
She reported the alleged assault to Cornell University Police the following month. The criminal investigation was eventually closed without charges by Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten.
But a civil lawsuit filed by the woman in September brought renewed attention to the allegations and new scrutiny of how authorities handled her original report. The lawsuit names seven fraternity brothers, Cornell University, Chi Phi and others as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, the woman was given drugs and alcohol before being subjected to sex acts while partially or entirely incapacitated. The lawsuit also alleges that one fraternity member sent a social media message informing other members about what was happening and inviting them to participate. Attorneys representing two of the men have denied their clients participated in a sexual assault.
Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation Monday, saying his office would review new information contained in the lawsuit. He also defended his original decision not to prosecute.
Hochul, however, said Friday that information that has since emerged raised serious concerns about both the district attorney’s office and Cornell University Police.
“In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?” Hochul said.
The governor said the woman had spent hours speaking with campus police and had stated that she was “100% confident” she had been raped, but that statement was not included in the police summary provided to prosecutors. Van Houten has said his original decision was based on that police-written summary rather than the woman’s complete interview transcript.
“This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable,” Hochul said. “And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her.”
Cornell Faces Growing Scrutiny
The case has sparked protests and calls for greater accountability at Cornell as students question how the Ivy League university responds to sexual assault allegations.
At a student government forum Thursday, students and community members spent more than two hours pressing university leaders for greater transparency, stronger sexual assault prevention measures and changes to Greek life.
Cornell has said it took several steps after receiving the woman’s allegations, including suspending the Chi Phi fraternity, conducting an internal investigation and disciplining or expelling some students. The university has declined to identify those students or detail the punishments, citing privacy protections.
Amid the renewed scrutiny, Cornell also agreed to bring in outside attorneys to independently examine how the university handled the allegations.
For James, the appointment places her office in charge of determining whether the evidence supports criminal prosecution in a case that has now drawn national attention.
“As our state’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer,” James said, “I stand ready to lead a process New Yorkers can trust.”
