New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed to serve as a special prosecutor in the investigation surrounding an alleged rape at Cornell University. Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order authorizing the appointment on Thursday following concerns raised over the initial handling of the case. Newly released information has continued to spark serious questions regarding the investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to pursue criminal charges after an alleged sexual assault at the campus Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Governor Hochul stated that these developments have severely undermined public faith in the District Attorney’s office to effectively handle the matter. Under the executive order, Attorney General James is tasked with investigating the allegations, determining whether prosecution is warranted, and presenting evidence to a grand jury if necessary. State officials emphasized that this appointment aims to guarantee a thorough and impartial review free from conflict or bias. Attorney General James noted that her office does not take the responsibility lightly and remains dedicated to upholding a trustworthy process guided strictly by the facts and the law. A university spokesperson confirmed that Cornell supports the decision to transition the case to the Attorney General’s Office. Meanwhile, the Tompkins County District Attorney’s office previously maintained that there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges, though the office later announced plans to reopen the case. The victim, a former Cornell student, alleges that she was drugged and assaulted by multiple men during the incident in October 2024. Her legal representation states that an internal university inquiry resulted in the expulsion of two accused fraternity members alongside lesser sanctions for others. Cornell clarified that its disciplinary measures involved expulsions and suspensions, explicitly denying that writing essays was permitted as a sole consequence for any involved individual. The survivor has also filed a lawsuit against both the university and seven men, alleging a failure to protect her and prevent the assault. Attorneys representing multiple accused individuals have formally denied the allegations. In addition to the criminal inquiry, Governor Hochul requested an independent review of Cornell University’s institutional response to the allegations, an investigation that the university has agreed to accommodate.
Source: cbsnews.com
