Hochul, James raise heat on Cornell as rape investigation widens

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National Headlines-October 2 2026

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Cornell case prompts a deep double take:

The Associated Press | Yuki Iwamura | Matt Rourke

Officials in the Empire State are taking a fresh look at the handling of an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in 2024 — and the case is now an active criminal investigation.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, whom Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) recently appointed to serve as special prosecutor in the case, discussed plans to reopen the investigation during a press conference Friday.

Hochul said the victim, identified as Jane Doe, was repeatedly “failed” by the institutions meant to protect her, raising questions about what information Cornell police shared with local prosecutors.

One key detail: The governor noted that Jane Doe told campus police she was “100 percent confident” she had been raped, but those words were not included in the account provided to prosecutors. 

Despite the pressure, Hochul stopped short of calling for either Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff or the local district attorney to resign, saying she did not have enough information “at this time.” James echoed the sentiment.

Meanwhile: The governor is pushing state lawmakers to close a loophole in New York’s sexual assault law involving victims who voluntarily became intoxicated.

“Voluntary intoxication is not a license for sexual assault or gang rape. Period,” she said.

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Jane Doe alleges she was drugged and gang raped by seven men at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024, but no criminal charges were filed.

She sued the university, the fraternity and others last month, bringing fresh attention to the case nearly two years later. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten subsequently reopened the investigation.

The case also sparked........

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