‘I want the truth’: NY governor appoints prosecutor in Cornell rape case

What the report says

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to examine an alleged gang rape case tied to Cornell University, following criticism of how local authorities handled the 2024 complaint. Hochul said newly disclosed information had shaken her confidence in the Tompkins County district attorney’s office and Cornell University Police, and she ordered the attorney general to take over the criminal investigation.

According to Al Jazeera, the move centers on a complaint from a former Cornell student identified in the reporting as Jane Doe, who later filed a civil lawsuit naming seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. Hochul said the woman was failed by institutions meant to protect her. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten had previously closed the case, then reopened it after the civil suit was filed. He has said prosecutors reviewed a sworn statement and concluded the facts, as presented, did not show a crime under New York law.

Cornell said its police shared evidence with prosecutors and that the university separately ran a disciplinary process that led to sanctions including expulsions and suspensions. The university is also conducting an independent review. The case has renewed debate in New York over consent and intoxication laws, with lawmakers arguing current rules may leave gaps when a person voluntarily used alcohol or drugs but could not consent.