New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James to lead a new investigation into sexual assault allegations involving a Cornell University fraternity, after criticizing how the case was handled by local authorities. The move follows concerns that key details were not fully conveyed by the university’s police department to the district attorney, and that the initial investigation lacked thoroughness.
The allegations center on Jane Doe, a former Cornell student who filed a lawsuit last month accusing members of the Chi Phi fraternity of gang rape during an incident in October 2024. Doe claims she was given alcohol and drugs before being assaulted by multiple men at the fraternity house. The seven men named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing, with four acknowledging sexual contact but asserting it was consensual.
Governor Hochul, speaking at a news conference in Manhattan, expressed frustration that the Cornell University Police Department did not relay Jane Doe’s unequivocal claim that she had been raped in the statement sent to Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s office. Hochul also criticized the district attorney’s decision to close the case without conducting an interview with the alleged victim or other participants.
“In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?” Hochul said. “This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable, and then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her.”
Van Houten welcomed the involvement of Attorney General James, pledging full cooperation with her office. He acknowledged that his office was not given the complete information by the university and emphasized that the focus should remain on supporting the victim. Van Houten has previously defended his decision not to pursue criminal charges in 2024, stating that the information available at the time did not meet the criteria to prosecute under state law.
The internal Cornell police records obtained by news organizations show that Doe reported the assault weeks after it occurred and spent hours detailing the incident in an interview with a campus investigator. Although she asserted with full confidence that she was raped, the final police statement sent to prosecutors omitted her explicit language and some key details. Cornell officials have declined to comment publicly due to the ongoing investigation but have said the university supports efforts to review its policies and procedures related to sexual misconduct on campus.
Attorney General James indicated her office will conduct a comprehensive inquiry involving evidence gathering, witness interviews, and, if warranted, criminal prosecution. The timeline for this process remains uncertain. Jane Doe’s legal counsel expressed satisfaction with James’s appointment, citing lost confidence in both the district attorney and campus police.
The case has drawn wider attention, reigniting debates about how sexual assault claims are handled at universities and by local authorities. Hochul’s intervention comes amid her campaign for re-election, where she has emphasized protecting children and families as a key priority.
President Donald Trump criticized Attorney General James’s involvement, suggesting bias, though her office had not responded to his remarks as of Friday evening. Legal experts noted that decisions on prosecution in cases of campus sexual assault are often complex and challenging.