Cornell sexual assault case: Snapchat records, police transcript prompt fresh probe
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the State Attorney General as a special prosecutor to investigate a 2024 sexual assault case at Cornell University. The decision follows the emergence of Snapchat evidence that raised concerns about the thoroughness of the initial local police investigation.
Why it matters
The case highlights issues of institutional accountability and the challenges of digital evidence preservation in sexual assault investigations on college campuses.
Snapchat messages exchanged during a sexual assault at Cornell University in 2024 included a photograph of then-student Jane Doe inside the Chi Phi fraternity house, according to images of the messages obtained by CNN.The messages, shared in a group chat titled “Chi Phi Actives”, have raised questions about whether additional photographs or videos from the night could have been recovered through a more extensive criminal investigation, according to a source close to the case.The revelations come as new details emerge about the alleged gang rape of Doe at the fraternity house, including what she told campus police weeks after the incident.New York State Attorney General Letitia James will now take over the case as special prosecutor, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, saying she had “lost faith” in the Tompkins County district attorney’s ability to oversee it.“New information has raised serious questions about how this case was handled, and…
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