In Cornell investigation, Gov. Hochul said special prosecutor Letitia James would find out ‘how this woman was denied justice’

Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor at Cornell University. alleged rape case.

Hochul delivered an impassioned speech Friday morning as she discussed her decision. She expressed shock and dismay at the allegations, as well as deep concern about how authorities handled the matter after the woman initially came forward to police.

Hochul, James on the investigation

“According to new reports, she could not have said more clearly that she was 100 percent sure she had been raped. Yet, shockingly, those words never appeared in the account Cornell police sent to prosecutors,” Hochul said. “Think about this. In what world would the police learn from a victim that she was literally gang-raped while drunk by five men at a fraternity house and not report these allegations to the prosecutor? In what world would the prosecutor not even question her or anyone else involved or even request the full transcript?”

Hochul said “new reports raise serious questions about the information the Tompkins County Prosecutor’s Office relied on” when it made the initial decision not to prosecute the case.

James “will follow the facts. She will look at the evidence and go where it leads, and if the evidence supports the charges, she will pursue them,” Hochul said.

“No institution can protect its reputation at the expense of a young person seeking justice. No public official can look the other way when the system collapses and fails our young people. And as governor, I will not allow anyone to sweep this matter under the rug,” Hochul said.

New effort to fill ‘gap in state law’

Hochul said the case revealed “a gap in state law. If a person is too drunk to consent, it doesn’t matter whether they choose to use drugs or alcohol. Self-intoxication is not a license for sexual assault or gang rape, period.”

Hochul said she would work with lawmakers to close this “gap.”

“I am prepared to lead a process guided by the facts and the law,” James said. “We will review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses and, if warranted, pursue charges. I know you want answers. I do too. A thorough investigation of this nature takes time, but my office is committed to completing it. This is now an active criminal investigation led by the Attorney General’s Office.”

Questions about Cornell police and the prosecutor’s actions

The governor said she was “deeply troubled” by the way Cornell police handled the case.

“Sending a partial case (to the Tompkins County Attorney) is, in my opinion, a failure. We will ask the attorney general and others to find out if that’s actually the case of what happened. But someone knew more than they were letting people know,” Hochul said. “But when the prosecutor gets something and he has information about allegations that happened in a meeting with five people at a fraternity, and you don’t take the time to interview this young lady and ask more questions and rely on a partial record? That’s what I’m talking about.”

Hochul signed an executive order Thursday appointing James. In her announcement, she said newly released information about the case “has undermined my confidence, and that of the public, in the (Tompkins County DA’s) ability to effectively investigate and prosecute the case at this time.”

“We don’t know enough, but what comes out beyond what everyone initially said… it’s very contradictory and conflicting. And I want the truth,” she added. “Who knew what and when? What did they do wrong? Why didn’t they come forward? How was this woman denied justice?”

Hochul and James were asked if the prosecutor should resign. Hochul said it was too early in the investigation.

“Our investigation is a criminal investigation based on all the facts. And so, at this time, we will not focus on the actions of the prosecutor,” James said.

Thomas Giuffra, the attorney for the woman known as Jane Doe who claims she was raped by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024, says Cornell police say they provided the district attorney’s office with information Van Houten claims she didn’t have.

“The question is who’s telling the truth? Are the Cornell police lying or is the prosecutor lying? Someone is, because in that statement, which I couldn’t get because it was police investigative documents, she clearly said ‘I was 100 percent raped,'” Giuffra said.

“I support Attorney General James’ nomination and hope she will look at the facts and apply the law. It has become clear that the university has not provided us with the complete picture. The focus has been and should continue to be on the victims. My office is cooperating fully with the Attorney General,” Tompkins County Attorney General Matthew Van Houten said Friday.

“We fully support the appointment of a special prosecutor and efforts to change the rape law in New York State and are committed to conducting an independent external review of all aspects of how Cornell handled this case,” a university spokesperson said.

Background of the case

A former Cornell student claims she was drugged and raped by multiple men at the university. Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The student’s attorney says that after an internal investigation, two of the accused fraternity members were expelled and others received lesser sanctions, including suspensions, workshops or tryouts.

The university said sanctions included expulsions and suspensions.

“None of those charged were given the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement,” a statement read.

The Tompkins County Prosecutor’s Office said at the time, “there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.”

The student now has filed a complaint against the university and seven men, claiming they failed to protect her and prevent the alleged attack. CBS News New York contacted all of the defendants and received a response from attorneys for two of them, who deny the allegations. A third man’s lawyer publicly denied wrongdoing by another client.

The prosecutor’s office then announced it was the reopening of the file.

Hochul previously hires an outside lawyer review Cornell’s response to the allegations and said the university agreed to the investigation.