NY Attorney General Letitia James opens criminal investigation into Cornell rape case

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Oct. 2, 2026 that she has opened an active criminal investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

The announcement came after Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order appointing James as an independent special prosecutor, citing serious questions about the Cornell Police Department’s handling of the case and the Tompkins County district attorney’s decision not to file criminal charges in 2024.

A civil complaint filed in September alleges that seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity supplied a woman, identified only as Jane Doe, with alcohol and drugs until she was intoxicated, then sexually assaulted and raped her in the fraternity house.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten explained that the woman’s sworn statement in November 2024 described the encounter as “voluntary, conscious, and consensual,” and therefore the office did not pursue charges at the time.

Governor Hochul highlighted new reporting that Jane Doe told Cornell police she was “100% confident” she had been raped, yet those words were omitted from the police report submitted to prosecutors. Hochul said the omission raised concerns about transparency and accountability.

Cornell University released a statement saying it fully supports the appointment of a special prosecutor and is committed to an independent external review of how the university handled the allegations.

James told reporters she will “review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions,” adding that every New Yorker deserves a justice system that investigates crimes fully and fairly.

The next weeks will see James’s office conduct interviews, collect forensic evidence, and coordinate with Cornell’s reopened internal investigation to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.