Letitia James appointed special prosecutor in alleged gang-rape at Cornell
Summary
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate an alleged gang-rape at Cornell University. This follows concerns about the local district attorney's decision not to prosecute and questions about the police investigation.Key Facts
- The alleged assault happened in 2024 at a Cornell University fraternity.
- The victim filed a lawsuit in September, naming seven men and the university among the defendants.
- Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially decided not to press criminal charges.
- Van Houten reopened the case after new information came out in the lawsuit.
- Governor Hochul said Van Houten’s handling of the case damaged public trust in his office.
- Letitia James will lead an independent, thorough investigation and may present evidence to a grand jury.
- Cornell University has suspended the Chi Phi fraternity indefinitely and punished some students, but details are private.
- The university has also hired outside lawyers to review how it handled the allegations.
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