New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to investigate allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house. The move follows concerns over the initial handling of the case by local authorities and the university.
Hochul cited concerns over the investigation conducted by Cornell Police Department and the decision by Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten not to prosecute the case. James will oversee the investigation and present evidence to a grand jury if warranted.
The case has raised questions about how sexual assaults are handled on college campuses, with the university suspending the Chi Phi fraternity and facing calls for accountability from students and community members.
Van Houten has acknowledged public outcry and has reopened the investigation, but advocates argue state law poses challenges in prosecuting cases involving intoxicated victims.