New York’s governor vows to close rape law loophole after Cornell case

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vowed to close a legal loophole allowing prosecutors to avoid rape charges when victims are willingly intoxicated, following an alleged gang rape at Cornell University. Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed as a special prosecutor to reopen the investigation, which was initially closed by prosecutors for lack of evidence.

The accuser, who claims she was drugged with ketamine and raped by seven men from Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity, filed a civil lawsuit against the university and the fraternity members. She asserts that voluntary intoxication should not be a defense for sexual assault.

Hochul stated that it is "just astounding" that this loophole still exists and vowed to work with the state legislature to close it. She expressed deep concern over how the initial investigation was handled at Cornell, where the complainant was met with skepticism despite her firm conviction of the attack.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten plans to file criminal charges against the seven men, who have since been expelled from the university. Cornell's student body criticized the handling of the case, demanding accountability from university administrators. Governor Hochul emphasized that no public official should allow such failures to go unnoticed.