Officials giving update on Cornell University rape investigation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate the handling of a 2024 rape case at Cornell University. The move follows criticism of local police and prosecutors regarding their response to the victim's allegations.
Why it matters
The case highlights systemic concerns regarding the investigation of sexual assault on college campuses and the potential for legal reform in consent laws.
The fallout from the handling of a 2024 alleged campus rape incident continues to rock New York's Cornell University.
At a brief news conference on Friday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had signed an executive order appointing the state's chief prosecutor, Attorney General Letitia James, as a special prosecutor to look into matter. The investigation could result in criminal charges.
Hochul said she is "deeply disturbed" by how Cornell's campus police handled the investigation and criticised the county prosecutors for not interviewing the alleged victim themselves.
"At every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her," Hochul said of the accuser.
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10 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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