New York Governor Appoints Special Prosecutor in Cornell University Rape Case
State intervention follows public criticism of how university police and local prosecutors handled gang rape allegations.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul criticized campus police and local prosecutors on Friday for failing to investigate an alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell University. Speaking at a news conference in New York City, Hochul announced that state Attorney General Letitia James would take over the case as special prosecutor.
Hochul said she lost faith in the ability of Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to handle the matter. She stated that the accuser, identified as Jane Doe, was failed by institutions that were obligated to protect her.
The decision followed a civil lawsuit filed in September. The lawsuit accused seven fraternity members, the university and the Chi Phi fraternity of involvement or negligence regarding an assault in Ithaca, New York, in October 2024.
The plaintiff said she was intoxicated, given drugs and sexually assaulted by multiple men over several hours. Lawyers for two of the accused men denied that their clients committed sexual assault.
Hochul said police records show the woman told campus police directly that she had been raped. However, the governor noted that those details were omitted from the statement sent to the district attorney. She also faulted Van Houten for declining charges in 2024 without interviewing the woman or examining full interview transcripts.
Van Houten said his office declined to prosecute in 2024 because the sworn statement provided by police lacked allegations meeting the legal standard for criminal charges. Van Houten reopened the investigation earlier in the week, citing details from the new lawsuit. The appointment of James removes his office from the inquiry.
Cornell University previously disciplined or expelled several students following an internal investigation. The university said it supported reopening the criminal inquiry and backed the appointment of a special prosecutor. It also agreed to an external review of its handling of the case.
James said her office will conduct an independent criminal investigation based on the facts and the law. She will determine whether to present evidence to a grand jury for potential criminal charges.
