Hochul Declares Cornell Rape Victim ‘Failed’ by Officials, Appoints Attorney General to Lead Probe

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stated that the woman at the center of the Cornell University rape case was “failed” at “every turn” by the institutions tasked with protecting her.

The woman, identified in legal documents as Jane Doe, alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024. Although the incident was investigated at the time, no criminal charges were filed. The case was recently reopened following the filing of a civil lawsuit by Doe last month, which brought the allegations to national attention.

During a press conference on Friday, Governor Hochul expressed that she was “deeply disturbed” by the handling of the initial investigation. In response, she has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to lead the case, citing a loss of confidence in the local prosecutor’s ability to oversee the investigation impartially.

“This young woman had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable, and then at every turn she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her,” Hochul stated, expressing outrage that local prosecutors failed to interview the accuser directly.

The governor has also pledged to address a legal loophole that currently prevents prosecutors from pursuing rape charges when the victim has voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol. Jane Doe is believed to have voluntarily ingested drugs and alcohol on the night of the alleged assault. “If someone is too intoxicated to consent, it should not matter if they chose to use drugs or alcohol. Voluntary intoxication is not a license for gang rape,” Hochul asserted.

Attorney General James, the state’s chief legal officer, joined Hochul at the news conference, pledging to “lead a process guided by the facts and the law.” James confirmed that her office would interview witnesses and pursue prosecutions if the evidence warrants.

Matthew Van Houten, the District Attorney who originally led the investigation, has defended his office’s decision not to file charges, arguing that the evidence provided at the time did not meet the necessary legal threshold. Van Houten noted that much of the information released in recent weeks was not initially shared with his office.

Cornell University stated that it provided evidence to the district attorney’s office from its own investigation, including a Snapchat group chat in which fraternity members allegedly discussed a “free” sexual encounter with Doe on the night of the alleged assault.

Source link