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Hochul Appoints Letitia James to Reopen Cornell Probe

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 2:34 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Hochul appoints James

Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.
James will oversee the reopened criminal probe into the Cornell gang-rape case.
The probe follows Jane Doe’s civil suit filed Sept. 16, 2026, naming seven fraternity members.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the case before Hochul removed him.
Cornell suspended the Chi Phi fraternity indefinitely and expelled several students.

Summary

Jane Doe Alleges Assault

Jane Doe requested a rape kit on Nov. 7, but DNA evidence had already degraded.
She reported the assault to campus police on Nov. 8, leading to Chi Phi fraternity’s suspension.
Doe’s attorney said she is “hanging on by a string” and praised public support.
She has paused her education and undergone extensive mental-health treatment.
The university’s 99-page report noted a ketamine overdose at the frat house on Oct. 18, 2024.

History

Historical Context

The 2006 Duke lacrosse scandal, in which five players were falsely accused of rape, ended with their exoneration and the disbarment of District Attorney Mike Nifong. The North Carolina State Bar stripped Nifong of his license in 2007 after a five-count ethics violation ruling, costing him $1 million in legal fees. Today, Governor Kathy Hochul named Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to revive Cornell’s 2024 Chi Phi fraternity rape investigation, echoing calls for independent oversight. That historic accountability precedent pressures universities and state officials to enforce Title IX safeguards more rigorously, aiming to prevent future campus sexual-assault crises.

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Hochul appoints James

Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.
James will oversee the reopened criminal probe into the Cornell gang-rape case.
The probe follows Jane Doe’s civil suit filed Sept. 16, 2026, naming seven fraternity members.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the case before Hochul removed him.
Cornell suspended the Chi Phi fraternity indefinitely and expelled several students.

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