New York Governor Kathy Hochul has designated the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, to serve as special prosecutor in a criminal investigation into allegations of gang rape at Cornell University. The case centers on allegations that a woman was drugged and assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024.
The matter was initially reviewed by Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten in 2024, who declined to pursue criminal charges at that time. Van Houten stated his office lacked sufficient evidence to meet the legal threshold for prosecution, noting they had only reviewed a statement from the alleged victim suggesting the incident was consensual and that she had not been drugged. Following a civil lawsuit filed last month that garnered national attention, Van Houten’s office announced plans to reopen the investigation.
Gouvernor Hochul expressed concerns about the original handling of the case, stating that new information had emerged raising serious questions about the district attorney’s oversight. “The young woman at the center of this case deserves to know that every fact will be examined and justice pursued,” Hochul said in her announcement. The appointment removes Van Houten from supervisory control over the criminal investigation.
The alleged victim, identified as Jane Doe in court filings, filed a civil action against Cornell University in September. She named seven men as alleged perpetrators in the incident. Cornell indicated it had provided investigative materials to the district attorney’s office, including communications between fraternity members referencing a sexual encounter with the alleged victim on the date in question. The attorney general indicated readiness to lead the investigation guided by facts and applicable law.
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