Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday that Attorney General Letitia James will act as a special prosecutor in the investigation of a gang rape alleged to have occurred at a Cornell University fraternity house.
The decision comes after a civil lawsuit was filed by an unnamed victim—referred to in court documents as Jane Doe—claiming that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven men the night of a fraternity event. The lawsuit has drawn national attention to the case, which originally began in 2024.
Governor Hochul said the new information raised serious questions about how the case was first handled, stating she no longer had faith in County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s ability to oversee the investigation. The appointment removes Van Houten from direct oversight of the case.
Attorney General James expressed readiness to “lead a process guided by the facts and the law” and indicated that her office would prosecute any offenses found and present evidence to a grand jury if warranted.
Van Houten had previously decided not to file charges, citing insufficient evidence that the victim had been drugged or that the assault had taken place, though he later reopened the case after the civil suit and after receiving new evidence from Cornell’s investigation, including a Snapchat group chat discussing the alleged encounter.
The governor and the attorney general are scheduled to report on the progress of the investigation on Friday morning. The case remains a stark reminder of the challenges universities face in protecting students and ensuring swift justice in sexual‑violence allegations.
