New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor on October 2, 2026, to lead a fresh criminal investigation into an alleged October 2024 gang rape at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house, sharply criticizing local authorities and police.
Governor Hochul Reopens the Case and Appoints a Special Prosecutor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the appointment of Attorney General Letitia James during an October 2, 2026, news conference in New York City, stating that the former student identified in court documents as Jane Doe had been failed by those obligated to protect her. Hochul declared that she would not allow the matter to be swept under the rug, prompting James to confirm that her office has opened an active criminal investigation to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and pursue prosecutions if warranted.
The state-level intervention follows a September 14 civil lawsuit filed in New York state court by Jane Doe, which detailed graphic allegations regarding an incident on October 19, 2024, at Cornell’s Chi Phi house. The civil complaint accuses seven current and former fraternity members, Cornell University, local and national Chi Phi organizations, a Tri Delta sorority chapter, and an Ithaca nightclub of negligence and other violations. In her complaint, Jane Doe asserted she arrived at the location intoxicated, was pressured into taking ketamine, and suffered sexual acts without her consent while trapped in a debilitating environment.
Tompkins County District Attorney Defends Initial Decision Not to Prosecute
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten defended his office’s initial handling of the case, explaining that a six-page sworn statement provided by campus police in November 2024 did not support criminal charges under New York law. Van Houten stated that the initial document described the student’s participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual, and noted that investigators did not receive the full interview transcript containing her later statements. Van Houten noted that his office could not base a November 2024 decision on allegations contained in a civil lawsuit that was filed nearly two years later.
Governor Hochul and other officials sharply questioned why local prosecutors and university police did not elevate the allegations earlier, noting that the accuser told campus police she could state with absolute certainty that she had been raped. Media reports subsequently highlighted excerpts from transcripts in which the accuser asserted confidence in her statements to investigators, while defense attorneys representing accused fraternity members have welcomed a renewed, independent review of the facts. Scott Kretzschmar, an attorney representing one of the accused students, strongly denied the accusations against his client, asserting that his client engaged in no sexual contact with the accuser.
Student Journalism and National Outcry Over University Disciplinary Actions
Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false.
Cornell University
Cornell University defended its Title IX proceedings, stating that a panel of trained faculty and staff conducted a multi-month investigation that resulted in expulsions and suspensions. In response to mounting public scrutiny and calls from state officials, the Ivy League institution agreed to initiate an independent review of its initial response to the allegations.
Professional Fallout and Independent Online Activism Surrounding the Defendants
As the civil litigation and criminal inquiry proceed, individuals named in the court filings have faced immediate public fallout. Diego Sarabia, one of the Cornell alumni named in the lawsuit, lost his position at a Wells Fargo branch in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the prosecutor’s announcement that the investigation would be reopened and presented to a grand jury.
Independent commentary has also emerged outside traditional legal channels.
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