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Gov. Hochul Orders State Police to Lead Cornell Assault Probe

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Governor Kathy Hochul ordered New York State Police to take over Cornell sexual assault investigations.
The Oct 29 2026 agreement lets survivors pick campus, Ithaca or county police.
Attorney General Letitia James is special prosecutor; Deputy AG Sally Yates leads a review of Cornell’s response.
Jane Doe alleges seven Chi Phi members drugged and gang-raped her in October 2024.
Her September 2026 civil suit names the seven former students and seeks emotional-distress damages.

History

In June 1972 President Richard Nixon signed the Education Amendments, creating Title IX to ban sex discrimination in federally funded schools. The law expanded after the 1977-80 Alexander v. Yale case and the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter that triggered investigations of 1,200 colleges. In 2026 Governor Kathy Hochul ordered Cornell’s Title IX probe under New York State Police, appointing Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.

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In June 1972 President Richard Nixon signed the Education Amendments, creating Title IX to ban sex discrimination in federally funded schools. The law expanded after the 1977-80 Alexander v. Yale case and the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter that triggered investigations of 1,200 colleges. In 2026 Governor Kathy Hochul ordered Cornell’s Title IX probe under New York State Police, appointing Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.

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