New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into allegations that a Cornell University student was sexually assaulted by several fraternity members in 2024.
Hochul signed an executive order making the appointment after raising concerns over the way the case was initially investigated and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office not to bring charges.
The governor said newly surfaced information had raised questions about both the Cornell Police Department’s handling of the allegations and the subsequent decision by local prosecutors.
“I’ve lost faith in the Tompkins County DA’s ability to fairly oversee it,” Hochul said in a statement announcing the move.
James said her office would conduct a full investigation and approach the matter fairly.
“The Governor has entrusted my office with this investigation, and we do not take that responsibility lightly,” James said.
The allegations date back to 2024, when the woman, who was 20 at the time, reported the incident to police several weeks after it allegedly occurred.
The case has come under renewed scrutiny following the release of additional material concerning what authorities and Cornell officials knew at the time.
A police interview obtained by CBS New York reportedly contains substantially more detail about the woman’s account than the sworn statement that was later presented to prosecutors.
Separately, more than 1,000 pages from Cornell’s internal investigation have come to light. Those records reportedly indicate that the woman did not immediately understand that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple people.
The woman has since filed a civil lawsuit naming seven fraternity members, the Chi Phi fraternity, Cornell University, a bar and her own sorority as defendants.
Local prosecutors reopen case
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has acknowledged the growing criticism surrounding the authorities’ handling of the allegations.
His office has now reopened the investigation and plans to present evidence, including testimony from the woman, to a grand jury that could determine whether criminal charges should be brought.
Van Houten previously said prosecutors decided not to pursue charges in part because of limitations under New York law.
The case has also intensified debate over the state’s sexual assault laws, particularly in situations where an alleged victim voluntarily consumed alcohol or other intoxicants before an alleged assault. Lawmakers and advocates have called for changes to the statutes, arguing that the existing framework can create obstacles to prosecution in such cases.
Cornell and fraternity respond
According to documents cited in reports on the case, the fraternity members have denied wrongdoing and told Cornell investigators that the sexual encounters were consensual.
Cornell has defended its response, saying it conducted a comprehensive investigation after learning of the allegations. The university barred the Chi Phi chapter from campus, and the chapter remains closed.
The university also imposed disciplinary measures against fraternity members, including expulsions and other sanctions.
The national Chi Phi organization has likewise said that members understood to have been involved were expelled from the fraternity.
With the state Attorney General now taking charge as special prosecutor, the investigation is set to receive a fresh review as authorities examine the evidence surrounding the allegations and the earlier decision not to pursue criminal charges.
