Cornell 7 Case Escalates as Governor Says 'I've Lost Faith' in DA and Vows 'Every Fact Will Be Examined'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the reopened investigation into allegations that a Cornell University student was sexually assaulted by seven men in 2024.

Hochul signed an executive order on 1 October giving James' office authority to investigate the allegations and, if warranted, prosecute offences and present evidence to a grand jury. She said newly released information had undermined her confidence in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten's handling of the case.

The intervention came three days after Van Houten announced that he was reopening the investigation, which initially ended without criminal charges. Renewed scrutiny followed a civil lawsuit filed by the woman, identified as Jane Doe, and the release of a police interview transcript in which she told investigators she was '100% confident I was raped'.

Hochul Says Confidence In DA Was Undermined

Hochul said the newly released information had raised questions about the Cornell University Police Department's investigation and Van Houten's earlier decision not to prosecute.

The governor said the information had 'undercut my faith, and the public's faith, in the District Attorney's ability to effectively investigate and prosecute the case at this time'. She said appointing James would ensure the case was handled independently and that 'every fact will be examined'.

James said her office would conduct the investigation according to the facts and the law. Under Hochul's executive order, her office can investigate the allegations and prosecute any offences arising from the case if prosecutors determine charges are warranted.

The appointment followed the publication of a transcript of Jane Doe's November 2024 interview with Cornell police. CBS reported that she described an initial sexual encounter as consensual but said later events involving multiple men were coercive. She also described being 'completely and totally incapacitated' during part of the alleged assault.

Van Houten told CBS he had not seen the transcript before his office decided not to bring charges. He said the material would have warranted further investigation had it been available at the time.

Allegations Against Seven Former Students

The allegations concern an October 2024 incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Jane Doe's civil lawsuit alleges that she was given alcohol and drugs, including ketamine and marijuana, before being sexually assaulted by seven men while incapacitated.

Van Houten has said the woman's 2024 sworn statement differed significantly from the later civil allegations. He previously said it did not allege that she had been drugged against her will or sexually assaulted by multiple men.

He reopened the criminal investigation on 28 September and said the evidence would be presented to a grand jury.

The seven men named in the civil lawsuit have not been criminally charged. Lawyers for some of them have denied the allegations, which have not been tested in a criminal trial.

Cornell Agrees to Independent Review

Cornell has supported the reopened criminal investigation and agreed to an independent review of its handling of the allegations. The university previously conducted its own investigation, resulting in suspensions and expulsions, while the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.

Cornell has said it provided the results of its investigation to the district attorney's office.

James' office will now assess the evidence and determine whether criminal charges should be pursued. Her appointment does not mean charges will necessarily follow.