Story perspectives

Cornell Names Sally Yates to Review Sexual-Assault Response

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 2:21 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Cornell University appointed Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to review its sexual-assault response.
Governor Kathy Hochul named Attorney General Letitia James as prosecutor for the 2024 Cornell case.
Cornell expelled two accused men, suspended others and closed the Chi Phi fraternity chapter.
Jane Doe sued alleging drugging and gang-rape by seven members on Oct. 19, 2024.
District Attorney Van Houten refused charges, relying on a six-page summary that omitted rape claims.

History

Historical Context

In 2006, the Duke University lacrosse scandal erupted, culminating in the wrongful indictment of five players by state prosecutor Mike Nifong. Nifong’s office filed a 12-page complaint alleging rape, yet the North Carolina Bar later fined him $100,000 for misconduct. Similarly, Cornell’s 2024 investigation, overseen by Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and Governor Kathy Hochul’s appointee Letitia James, confronts alleged gang-rape allegations. Both episodes expose how prosecutorial discretion and Title IX oversight can shape campus justice, prompting calls for stricter federal guidelines.

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Story summary

Cornell University appointed Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to review its sexual-assault response.
Governor Kathy Hochul named Attorney General Letitia James as prosecutor for the 2024 Cornell case.
Cornell expelled two accused men, suspended others and closed the Chi Phi fraternity chapter.
Jane Doe sued alleging drugging and gang-rape by seven members on Oct. 19, 2024.
District Attorney Van Houten refused charges, relying on a six-page summary that omitted rape claims.

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