New York Attorney General Letitia James has initiated an active criminal investigation into alleged gang rape at Cornell University in 2024 following a civil complaint filed by Jane Doe against seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. Governor Kathy Hochul appointed James as a special prosecutor, citing concerns over how the case was handled by the Cornell Police Department and Tompkins County District Attorney's office. The investigation will involve reviewing facts, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and pursuing prosecutions if warranted.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday morning she has opened an "active criminal investigation" into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in 2024.
asserted
she → announce → 2024
"This is now an active criminal investigation led by the office of the attorney general," James said after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed her as an independent special prosecutor in the case.
asserted
Hochul → lead → case
"Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly, that they will be seen and heard.
asserted
they → deserve → crime
That is the promise of our justice system," she said.
asserted
she → say → system
"I stand ready to lead a process guided by the facts and the law.
asserted
I → stand → facts
In the coming months, my office will dutifully carry out the responsibilities the governor has conferred upon us in this executive order.
asserted
governor → come → order
We will review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions.
asserted
We → review → prosecutions
I know that you want answers.
asserted
you → know → answers
I do too," she added.
asserted
she → do → ?
Hochul signed an executive order appointing James as the special prosecutor on Thursday, citing "serious questions about the investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to prosecute an alleged sexual assault on Cornell University's campus in October 2024."
asserted
Hochul → sign → October
A woman identified only as Jane Doe filed a civil complaint in September accusing seven members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity of sexual assault and rape.
asserted
woman → identify → assault
In the complaint, Doe alleges she "was plied with alcohol and drugs to the point of intoxication by members of Xi chapter's fraternal organization," which resulted in her "being sexually assaulted and raped by members of Xi chapter's regional fraternal organization at Cornell University."
asserted
her → allege → University
The Tompkins County District Attorney reviewed the case at the time and chose not to pursue criminal charges.
asserted
Attorney → review → charges
"Jane Doe’s sworn statement in November of 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped.
asserted
she → swear → will
On the contrary, Jane Doe’s statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual.
asserted
statement → describe → use
My office obviously did not and could not have based our November 2024 decision on the allegations in a civil lawsuit that would not be filed until nearly two years later," the District Attorney's office wrote in a Sept. 28, 2026 statement.
uncertain
office → do → statement
In a statement to Fox News following Friday's press conference, Cornell University said, "We fully support the appointment of a special prosecutor and efforts to change New York State’s rape law and are committed to an independent external review of all aspects of how Cornell has handled this case."
The offices of New York's attorney general and the Tompkins County district attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
asserted
offices → follow → comment
"According to new reports, [Jane Doe] could not have been clearer that she was 100% confident that she had been raped.
uncertain
she → accord → reports
Yet, shockingly, those words never made it into the account that the Cornell police sent to prosecutors," Hochul explained, citing a New York Times article.
asserted
Hochul → make → article
The report claimed Doe did tell Cornell police officers that she was raped but that information did not make its way into the voluntary statement the department sent to the district attorney's office.
"
asserted
department → claim → office
The attorney general then declined to pursue charges after reviewing that incomplete account and never interviewing her.
asserted
general → decline → her
In what world would the police learn from a victim that she'd been literally gang raped while intoxicated by five men in a fraternity house, and not elevate those allegations to the district attorney?
asserted
she → learn → attorney
In what world does the district attorney not even interview her or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?" Hochul asked.
asserted
Hochul → interview → transcript
Matthew Van Houten, the Tompkins County district attorney, claimed he had never been informed the statement he received was inaccurate or incomplete.
asserted
he → claim → ?
"I have never been contacted by Jane Doe’s attorneys.
asserted
I → contact → attorneys
Not to inform me the original statement was inaccurate and not to ask me to reconsider our decision.
asserted
statement → inform → decision
Rather, I reached out to Jane Doe’s attorneys after the lawsuit was filed to understand the discrepancy between the original statement and the lawsuit’s allegations and the proper path forward in light of the lawsuit’s allegations," he wrote in his statement.
asserted
he → reach → statement
Hochul told the public during her press conference that, in addition to James' criminal investigation, Cornell University has also reopened an investigation.
asserted
University → tell → investigation
The Aporia
