New York Governor Kathy Hochul has intervened in a high-profile sexual assault investigation at Cornell University, removing the local district attorney from the matter and appointing the state attorney general as a special prosecutor.
The move follows growing public scrutiny and student frustration over the handling of allegations that a female student was drugged and assaulted by multiple men at a campus fraternity house in 2024. The survivor, who is referred to as Jane Doe in court filings, thrust the matter back into the national spotlight last month by filing a civil lawsuit against the Ivy League institution.
Governor Hochul stated that recent developments have generated serious doubts regarding how local authorities managed the inquiry. She explicitly noted a loss of confidence in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to supervise the case fairly, leading to the decision to transfer oversight to New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The appointment strips District Attorney Van Houten of jurisdiction over the investigation. Previously, his office declined to pursue criminal charges in 2024, citing insufficient evidence to meet the necessary legal standards. Van Houten later defended that decision and stated that investigators were not initially provided with much of the material that has surfaced publicly in recent weeks.
Following the filing of the civil suit, the local prosecutor's office announced it would reopen the inquiry. However, criticism mounted from the accuser’s legal representation, who accused the district attorney of altering his explanations as media coverage intensified. Students at Cornell also voiced deep dissatisfaction during a public hearing regarding how the institution and local authorities handled the situation.
Under the new directive, Attorney General James will have the authority to review all evidence, present findings to a grand jury, and bring criminal charges if the investigation warrants them. James acknowledged the assignment on social media, emphasizing that her office approaches the responsibility with utmost seriousness and will let facts and the law dictate the process.
The civil lawsuit against Cornell University also accuses the institution of failing to safeguard the student and neglecting to properly discipline the seven male students involved, who have been labeled in reports as the Cornell Seven. The university previously maintained that it shared findings from its internal inquiry with local prosecutors, including digital messages from a group chat where fraternity members allegedly discussed the encounter.
Governor Hochul and Attorney General James are expected to deliver a joint public update on the inquiry. The case continues to draw intense national attention regarding how universities, campus Greek organizations, and local law enforcement respond to allegations of sexual violence.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
