New York Attorney General takes over Cornell University fraternity rape investigation

Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to lead an investigation into allegations that seven fraternity members raped a student at Cornell University in 2024.

Governor Hochul signed an executive order on Thursday requiring the attorney general to investigate the alleged October 2024 assault. During a news conference on Friday, Hochul stated she had "lost faith" in the Tompkins County district attorney's ability to oversee the case. According to Al Jazeera, Hochul questioned why the local prosecutor failed to interview the accuser or request full transcripts of the initial reports, stating the woman had been failed by institutions with an obligation to protect her.

The accuser, identified as Jane Doe, alleges she was drugged with ketamine and assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told the BBC and CBS that Doe was 20 years old at the time and was "incapable of consent" due to being "completely, grossly intoxicated" upon her arrival at the fraternity house. Records from the school's disciplinary investigation, obtained by U.S. media, include Doe's statement that she felt like "bait" and a "sex doll" during the encounter.

Outlets report conflicting accounts regarding the initial 2024 investigation. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten defended his original decision not to prosecute, telling Fox News and Al Jazeera that a sworn statement Doe gave in November 2024 described the sexual conduct as "voluntary" and "consensual." However, Governor Hochul alleged that the full account Doe gave to campus police was not conveyed to prosecutors and that the police statement omitted her assertions of sexual assault.

The case has reignited a political and legal debate in New York. Governor Hochul vowed to close a legal "loophole" that complicates rape charges when victims voluntarily consume drugs or alcohol. Meanwhile, Donald Trump criticized the move on social media, calling Attorney General James "corrupt" and questioning her oversight of the case. Doe's attorney noted his client is currently "under siege" by online sleuths attempting to uncover her identity, prompting other women to post solidarity videos titled "I am Jane Doe."

Background

The allegations stem from an October 19, 2024, incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house. While the criminal case was initially closed without charges in 2024, the investigation was reopened this week after Doe filed a civil lawsuit.