Hochul, James raise heat on Cornell as rape investigation widens

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has criticized Cornell University officials and prosecutors for failing the woman at the center of a rape case, according to the governor's office. Known as Jane Doe in legal documents, the woman alleges she was drugged and raped by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024. Despite an initial investigation, no charges were filed.

The case resurfaced when the woman filed a civil lawsuit last month, bringing the allegations to national attention. Hochul, who expressed deep distress over the handling of the investigation, has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the case. Hochul stated that Jane Doe was "failed" by various officials and institutions responsible for her protection.

She vowed to close a loophole that currently bars prosecutors from pursuing rape charges when the victim has voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol, emphasizing that voluntary intoxication should not justify gang rape. Attorney General James, alongside Hochul, pledged to lead a fact-based and law-abiding investigation, promising to interview witnesses and pursue prosecutions if warranted.

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who led the original investigation, defended his decision not to charge the accused, citing insufficient evidence. He noted that much of the recently released information about the case was not forwarded to his office by Cornell University. Cornell has acknowledged providing evidence to the district attorney's office, including a Snapchat group chat in which fraternity members discussed a "free" sexual encounter with Doe on the night of the alleged assault.