Crime & Justice
Hochul appoints state attorney general as special prosecutor in Cornell rape case
October 2, 2026 at 06:27 PM · Updated 13d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 9 hours
BNBBC News
Cornell frat house rape accuser 'under siege' online, says lawyer
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera English
‘I want the truth’: NY governor appoints prosecutor in Cornell rape case
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Woman at centre of Cornell rape inquiry was 'failed' by officials, says New York governor
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Woman in alleged Cornell gang-rape case was ‘failed’ by system, New York governor says
(opens the publisher’s site)New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the Cornell rape case, saying local authorities failed the accuser.
- Hochul signed an executive order Thursday directing James to investigate the alleged October 2024 assault.
- Hochul said the woman was failed by Cornell police and the county district attorney's office, which declined to prosecute in November 2024.
- Van Houten defended his decision, saying prosecutors reviewed the woman's sworn statement and concluded the facts established no crime under New York law.
- Hochul pledged to close a legal loophole blocking rape charges when victims voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol.
- The accuser's lawyer said she is 'under siege' from online sleuths trying to uncover her identity.