Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house following a civil lawsuit.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed the state's Attorney General, Letitia James, as a special prosecutor to oversee an investigation into allegations that a student was gang-raped by seven men at a Cornell University fraternity house in October 2024. The appointment follows a civil lawsuit filed in September by the alleged victim, identified as Jane Doe, and concerns regarding the initial handling of the case by local authorities and the university.

Allegations and Legal Action

In a lawsuit filed on September 16, Jane Doe alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at their house in Ithaca. The suit names the university, the fraternity, and the seven men as defendants. Doe alleges that she arrived at the house on October 19, 2024, already intoxicated, and that what began as a consensual encounter with two men became coercive as more individuals entered the room and she became unable to consent due to severe intoxication and the ingestion of ketamine.

Investigation and Official Response

The Tompkins County District Attorney had previously declined to prosecute the case, a decision Governor Hochul cited as the reason for her loss of faith in the local office. The Attorney General’s office is now tasked with reviewing the evidence and determining whether to present the case to a grand jury. Meanwhile, the university has faced significant public pressure, including protests from students and community members demanding accountability, and the cancellation of university-affiliated events by high-profile figures.