New York's governor removes district attorney from Cornell rape allegations case, appoints special prosecutor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the state's Attorney General as a special prosecutor to investigate sexual assault allegations at a Cornell University fraternity. The move follows concerns regarding the local district attorney's handling of the case.
Why it matters
This case highlights the intersection of campus safety, legal accountability, and the use of executive power to ensure impartial justice.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed a special prosecutor Thursday to oversee an investigation into a woman's allegations that she was gang raped at a Cornell University fraternity house, with the governor saying she had lost faith in the local district attorney's ability to handle the case.
Hochul said she had signed an executive order appointing the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor.
"Newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to prosecute an alleged sexual assault on Cornell University's campus in October 2024," Hochul said in a statement .
"This has, in turn, undercut my faith, and the public's faith, in the District Attorney's ability to effectively investigate and prosecute the case at this time."
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10 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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