Letitia James appointed special prosecutor in alleged Cornell gang-rape case

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she is appointing the state's attorney general, Letitia James, as special prosecutor to investigate an alleged gang-rape case at Cornell University.

The appointment follows renewed questions over the university's own 2024 investigation into the allegations. Hochul said the move was intended to ensure the case receives a thorough and independent review.

"The young woman at the center of this case deserves to know that every fact will be examined and justice pursued," Hochul said in a statement, adding that the appointment would ensure the matter is "fully and thoroughly investigated without conflict or bias" and handled with the rigor the case demands.

By bringing in the state attorney general as special prosecutor, New York officials are seeking to address concerns that the university's internal investigation may not have adequately addressed the allegations. The move places the case under the authority of one of the state's most senior legal officials, separate from Cornell's own disciplinary processes.

The appointment comes amid broader scrutiny of how universities across the country handle allegations of sexual violence among students, with the Cornell case becoming a focal point for questions about institutional accountability.