Cornell Investigation

New York’s governor has appointed a special prosecutor to oversee an investigation into a woman’s allegations that she was gang raped at a Cornell University fraternity house, saying she had lost faith in the local district attorney’s ability to handle the case. Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday she has signed an executive order appointing the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor. Hochul said the attorney general would oversee the investigation and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says the woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including police and the county prosecutor. Hochul’s claim came during a news conference Friday in which she gave details on her decision to turn the case over to a special prosecutor, state Attorney General Letitia James. The governor says she made the decision after learning “troubling details” about how authorities have handled the woman’s claims, including that the district attorney closed the case without having anyone interview the victim or anyone involved in the alleged attack. She also assailed the Cornell University Police Department for not fully conveying the woman’s story to prosecutors.