New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed as a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into a 2024 sexual assault allegation at a Cornell University fraternity. The appointment was announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, who stated at a Friday press conference that she made the decision after expressing a loss of faith in the Tompkins County District Attorney’s handling of the case.
The case gained public attention following a civil lawsuit filed in September by a former Cornell student, identified under the pseudonym Jane Doe. The lawsuit alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple individuals at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. The lawsuit names seven men, the university, and the fraternity as defendants.
At a press conference in New York City alongside James, Hochul criticized the initial investigation conducted by Cornell University Police and the subsequent decision by Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten not to pursue criminal charges in 2024.
“I’m deeply disturbed at Cornell University’s police and how they handled this,” Hochul said. She added that the student was “failed” by systems obligated to protect her. Hochul stated she appointed James after she “lost faith” in Van Houten’s ability to oversee the case.
In response to the lawsuit, Van Houten stated on Monday that the allegations presented were “dramatically different” from the statement the student gave to police two years ago. He later told CBS News that his office had relied on a summary written by a campus police officer and had not seen her detailed account.
Attorney General James said her office will conduct a full review of the case. “I stand ready to lead a process guided by the facts and the law,” James said. She stated her office would oversee the investigation and, if evidence warrants, could present the case to a grand jury for potential criminal charges.
“At this time we will not be focusing on the actions of the district attorney,” James added, noting her priority is the criminal investigation into the alleged assault.
During the press conference, Hochul also called attention to what she described as “a gap in state law” regarding sexual assault cases where a person was voluntarily intoxicated. “If someone is too intoxicated to consent, it should not matter whether they chose to use drugs or alcohol,” the governor stated.
In response to the developments, Cornell University has indefinitely suspended the Chi Phi fraternity. The university also announced on Wednesday that it would hire external lawyers to conduct an independent investigation into its handling of the student’s allegations.
Lawyers for two of the men named in the civil lawsuit have denied the allegations of sexual assault.
