What changed
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the investigation into an alleged 2024 rape at a Cornell University fraternity house.
The move removes Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten from oversight after the case was reopened following a civil lawsuit by Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and raped by seven men. James may prosecute any offences she finds and present evidence to a grand jury if warranted.
Why it matters
This changes who controls the criminal investigation. A case that had stalled under the county prosecutor will now be examined by the state’s top legal officer, after renewed scrutiny over how it was handled.
Van Houten said his office previously lacked enough evidence to meet the legal threshold for charges. He also said the information released recently had not been passed to his office. Cornell, meanwhile, says it gave prosecutors evidence from its own investigation, including a Snapchat group chat in which fraternity members discussed a “free” sexual encounter with Doe.
The appointment does not mean charges will follow. James still has to decide what evidence is admissible and sufficient, and whether the allegations can be proved to the required legal standard.
Hochul and James are scheduled to provide an update on Friday morning local time.
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