Archive · 2 Oct 2026
New York Names Special Prosecutor in Cornell Rape Investigation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James to investigate an alleged sexual assault involving a Cornell student.
The alleged incident happened in 2024.
The student says fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated.
She later filed a civil lawsuit against several people and organizations.
Reports said police gave prosecutors a shorter account than the one in the student’s interview.
Local prosecutors initially decided not to bring charges, citing the information they received and limits in state law.
They have now reopened the case and plan to present evidence to a grand jury.
The accused men deny wrongdoing and said the sex was consensual.
Cornell and Chi Phi say they investigated and punished or expelled members.
Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the alleged 2024 gang rape case involving a Cornell student.
Hochul criticized Cornell police and Tompkins County prosecutors over how the investigation was handled and said she had lost faith in the local district attorney’s oversight.
Reports said the woman’s police interview contained more detail than the sworn statement ultimately given to prosecutors.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the case and said evidence, including the woman’s testimony, would be presented to a grand jury.
The woman’s lawsuit names seven fraternity members, Chi Phi, Cornell, a bar and her sorority; the accused men told university investigators the sex was consensual.
- Who
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Cornell University officials, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, the student and the accused fraternity members.
- What
- James was appointed special prosecutor to investigate an alleged 2024 gang rape involving a Cornell student.
- When
- The alleged incident occurred in 2024; James was appointed on Thursday, and Van Houten said the local investigation was reopened this week.
- Where
- Cornell University in Tompkins County, New York.
- Why
- Hochul said newly reported information raised questions about the police investigation and the local prosecutors’ decision not to bring charges.
Criticism and allegations
Defenses and responses
Police and prosecutorial handling
Criticism and allegations
Hochul said Cornell police failed to include the student’s reported allegation of rape in the sworn statement provided to prosecutors. She also questioned why the district attorney’s office did not interview the woman or review the full police transcript.
Defenses and responses
Van Houten said his office initially declined to pursue charges because the sworn statement did not establish a crime under state law and because prosecutors faced legal constraints. He said the office would cooperate with James and present the reopened case to a grand jury.
What happened during the encounter
Criticism and allegations
The student’s lawsuit alleges that several fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated. Her lawyer said he had little faith in the local prosecutors’ handling of the case.
Defenses and responses
The accused men denied wrongdoing to Cornell investigators and said the sex was consensual.
Law and institutional response
Criticism and allegations
Hochul and lawmakers said New York’s sexual-assault laws should be changed so that it does not matter whether an intoxicated victim voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol.
Defenses and responses
Cornell said it conducted a comprehensive investigation and imposed discipline, including expulsions and sanctions. Chi Phi said the Cornell chapter and the national fraternity expelled members understood to have been involved.
- Special prosecutor
- New York Attorney General Letitia James
- Appointing official
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul
- Local prosecutor
- Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten
- Alleged incident
- An alleged 2024 gang rape involving a Cornell student
- Case status
- The investigation was reopened and evidence is expected to go before a grand jury
- Civil lawsuit
- The student sued seven fraternity members, Chi Phi, Cornell, a bar and her sorority
- University response
- Cornell said it conducted an investigation, closed the Chi Phi chapter and imposed expulsions and other sanctions