Cornell rape inquiry victim was failed by officials, says New York governor

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the woman at the centre of a rape inquiry involving Cornell University was “failed” by officials and institutions that had an obligation to protect her.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, alleges that several men drugged and raped her at a fraternity house in 2024. The case was investigated at the time, but no charges were filed.

The inquiry has recently reopened after Doe filed a civil lawsuit last month, bringing the allegations into the national spotlight. At a news conference on Friday, Hochul said she was “deeply disturbed” by the handling of the investigation and appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to lead it.

New York attorney general to lead inquiry

Hochul said she had “lost faith” in the local prosecutor’s ability to oversee the investigation. She also criticised local prosecutors for not interviewing Doe themselves.

James, who appeared alongside Hochul, said her office would interview witnesses and pursue prosecutions if warranted. She pledged to lead a process guided by the facts and the law.

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who previously led the investigation, has defended his office’s decision not to file charges, saying prosecutors did not receive enough evidence to meet the legal threshold. He said much of the information about the case released in recent weeks had not been provided to his office.

Cornell said it had shared evidence from its own investigation with the district attorney’s office. The material included a Snapchat group chat in which fraternity members discussed a “free” sexual encounter with Doe on the night of the alleged assault.

Hochul vows to address intoxication loophole

Hochul also vowed to close what she described as a “loophole” that prevents prosecutors from pursuing rape charges in cases where a victim voluntarily consumed drugs or alcohol.

“If someone is too intoxicated to consent it should not matter if they chose to use drugs or alcohol,” Hochul said. “Voluntary intoxication is not a licence for gang rape.”