Hochul steps in, assigns state AG to Cornell fraternity sexual assault probe

ITHACA, N.Y. - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul moved to take a Cornell University sexual assault investigation out of local hands on Thursday, placing the state attorney general in charge.

The governor and New York Attorney General Letitia James held a news conference about the case at 9:30 a.m. Friday. 

Hochul made the move after expressing doubts about how local authorities managed the allegations, according to The Associated Press (AP). 

Under a new executive order, James’ office will assume full oversight of the case involving a woman’s reported rape at a fraternity house, and the special prosecutor will re-examine the evidence and determine whether to seek a grand jury indictment. James' office confirmed to FOX 5 N.Y. Wednesday that it was reviewing the case, but did not disclose the precise scope of what investigators were examining or what timeline existed for determining next steps at the time. 

Cornell alleged gang rape case reopened

The backstory:

The issue gained renewed attention after a former Cornell student accused seven men of sexually assaulting her at the Chi Phi fraternity house on campus in October 2024. 

Her suit says the assault occurred after she was pressured into snorting ketamine, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, to the point where she was incapable of consenting to sex.

The woman reported the incident to Cornell’s campus police department, but the local district attorney’s office opted not to prosecute anyone at the time. It reopened the criminal investigation Monday as public outrage built over the woman’s allegations, to which Hochul responded on Tuesday calling for an independent investigation. 

Hochul’s decision follows growing scrutiny over how law enforcement handled the initial inquiry into the alleged October 2024 assault, per the AP. She cited serious concerns with both the campus police department's gathering of evidence and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s subsequent choice not to file charges.

Van Houten defended his office’s actions Tuesday in several media interviews, arguing that while the male students involved did things that were "morally wrong," the woman’s initial account to police didn’t include allegations that she was drugged, incapacitated beyond the ability to consent or forced into sex. He also defended his office’s decision not to conduct an additional investigation after the woman initially spoke to police in 2024.

What they're saying:

In issuing the order, the governor stated, "newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to prosecute an alleged sexual assault on Cornell University's campus in October 2024." 
 

"This has, in turn, undercut my faith, and the public's faith, in the District Attorney’s ability to effectively investigate and prosecute the case at this time," she said. 

In responding to the appointment, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement of her own that "every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly." 

"The governor has entrusted my office with this investigation, and we do not take that responsibility lightly," she added.