New York Governor Raises Concerns Over Cornell University Rape Case

Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her outrage on Friday regarding the handling of the Cornell University student who reportedly experienced a gang rape by fraternity members. She stated that the young woman was “failed at every turn” and took immediate action by removing the local district attorney from the case, appointing state Attorney General Letitia James to lead the investigation instead.

Her frustration was palpable, especially upon learning that the accuser had told investigators she was “100%” certain she had been raped. Yet, incredibly, those confident assertions were never included in the police report provided to prosecutors, leading them to dismiss the case.

“This young woman has suffered an unthinkable ordeal,” Hochul told reporters during a Manhattan press conference. “And then, time after time, she was let down by those who should have been there to support and protect her.”

Following the deeply troubling allegations, which have reverberated across the nation, Hochul issued an executive order this week for James to take charge of the criminal investigation. This decision came after concerns surfaced regarding how school and local officials managed the situation.

Hochul’s faith in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten faltered as reports revealed inconsistencies in what the DA claimed the survivor had conveyed to campus police. Van Houten had previously opted not to pursue charges in 2024, reasoning that while the student’s statement to Cornell University police was alarming, it did not explicitly accuse the male students of rape.

However, recent disclosures showed that during a conversation with Cornell campus police and in Title IX interviews, the accuser had stated unequivocally, “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped.”

“Yet, shockingly, those words were completely omitted from the account that the Cornell police submitted to prosecutors,” Hochul remarked.