New York AG takes over Cornell gang rape probe after Hochul ‘lost faith’ in DA

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor to investigate allegations that a former Cornell University student was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the move Thursday, saying new information had raised questions about the original investigation and that she had “lost faith” in the Tompkins County district attorney’s ability to oversee the case.

“The young woman at the center of this case deserves to know that every fact will be examined and justice pursued,” Hochul said, according to CNN.

James will have authority to investigate the allegations and, if warranted, prosecute offences and present evidence to a grand jury.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleges seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her in October 2024 after she consumed drugs and alcohol.

No criminal charges have been filed, and lawyers for multiple defendants have denied the allegations.

CNN reported that newly obtained Snapchat messages from a fraternity group chat included a photograph of Doe and messages referring to sexual activity during the alleged assault.

Additional records obtained by the New York Times show Doe initially did not describe the incident as rape or assault, but later told campus police she had been raped.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously said his office never received the transcript of that police interview.

He reopened the investigation this week before Hochul appointed James to take over the case.