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Hochul Names Letitia James as Special Prosecutor in Cornell Case
On Thursday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into rape allegations at Cornell University, citing lost faith in the local district attorney's handling.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously declined criminal charges, claiming he had not seen the victim's detailed police interview transcript until this week when CBS News revealed details from it.
Jane Doe alleges she was gang raped at the Chi Phi fraternity after being drugged with ketamine in October 2024, later telling police, "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped."
Under public pressure, Cornell agreed Wednesday to bring in outside lawyers for an independent investigation, while Van Houten announced he would reopen the case based on newly revealed information.
This case has roiled the Ivy League campus, with the woman's account shifting from an embarrassment to a formal allegation pursued through a lawsuit filed in the university, fraternity, and others.