New York Attorney General Takes Over Reopened Cornell Assault Probe

UPDATE - follow-up to Cornell Seven case: The 2024 allegations, Cornell's response and what comes next | Explained: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee a reopened criminal investigation into a 2024 sexual assault case at Cornell University. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously decided not to file charges in late 2024, stating that the initial sworn statement from the complainant did not establish a criminal offense under state law. Lawyers for the woman, referred to as Jane Doe, strongly disputed that claim by pointing to police interviews where she described being incapacitated and raped.

University Response

The case resurfaced in September 2026 after Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, and seven accused men, following reports published by the student newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun. Cornell ran its own Title IX disciplinary proceedings between January 2025 and subsequent months, resulting in expulsions for two students, multi-semester suspensions for two others, and a three-year campus ban for a graduated student. Two other students were found not responsible for sexual misconduct but received administrative penalties including reflection papers, while Cornell permanently closed the Chi Phi chapter.

Context

Title IX is a federal law in the United States that requires educational institutions receiving federal funds to address and resolve allegations of sex-based discrimination and sexual assault. University disciplinary panels operate separately from the criminal justice system, meaning school sanctions do not replace criminal charges or police investigations.