ITHACA, N.Y. — New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken over the criminal investigation into allegations that seven Cornell University fraternity members drugged and gang-raped a student in 2024, after Gov. Kathy Hochul removed the local district attorney from the case.
Hochul signed an executive order Thursday appointing James as special prosecutor, giving her full authority to investigate the alleged assault, present evidence to a grand jury, and prosecute any offenses if warranted.
“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,” Hochul said in a statement. “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.”
The case centers on a former Cornell student, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, who filed a civil lawsuit on September 16 alleging she was drugged with ketamine and sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. She reported the incident to Cornell police about three weeks later.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s office reviewed the case at the time and found insufficient grounds to bring criminal charges. Van Houten has said Doe’s original statement described her drug use and some sexual conduct as voluntary and consensual — but newly surfaced portions of her 2024 police interview have raised questions about that characterization. In a transcript obtained by CBS News New York, Doe told campus police: “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped.”
Van Houten reopened the investigation on September 28 and had planned to present evidence to a grand jury before Hochul’s intervention. He has said he will cooperate with the state probe.
“We will review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and if warranted, pursue prosecutions,” James said Friday. She cautioned that investigations like this take time.
Cornell ran its own Title IX investigation — the federal process schools must use for sexual misconduct complaints, which is separate from any criminal case. According to the lawsuit, the university suspended the seven accused students and the Chi Phi chapter, and two of the men were expelled. The fraternity’s local chapter has been barred from campus.
Hochul has also called for a third-party investigation into Cornell’s handling of the matter, and Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff has agreed to an independent review. The governor is urging lawmakers to change New York law so voluntary intoxication would not bar prosecution when a person is too impaired to consent.
Students have been protesting on campus as the case draws national attention.
The accused men deny the claims; several acknowledged sexual contact but say it was consensual, per reporting.
