New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday stopped short of demanding the ouster of Cornell University's president or the local prosecutor who previously handled a 2024 alleged gang rape, even as she labeled the school's handling of the matter a clear failure.
Standing alongside state Attorney General Letitia James, whom she has tapped as special prosecutor in the case, Hochul told reporters she lacked sufficient information to call for resignations. "I don't have enough information at this time," she said, responding to mounting political pressure over the university's response to the allegations.
The case centers on a 20-year-old woman, identified in court filings as Jane Doe, who says she was sexually assaulted by multiple men at the Chi Phi fraternity house after being given alcohol and drugs. She reported the incident three weeks later, and the then-district attorney declined to pursue charges, citing the victim's statements as suggesting the encounters were consensual.
However, documents obtained by CBS News reportedly show that Doe told Cornell police she was "100% certain" she had been raped. That crucial statement allegedly was omitted from the report forwarded to prosecutors—a point Hochul highlighted during Friday's press conference.
"I'm deeply disturbed at Cornell University's police and how they handled this," Hochul said. "They were the first ones to be able to interview and have their questions answered, and let this young woman tell her story. Them sending a partial record over is, in my judgment, a failure."
She added, "We'll have the attorney general and others find out if this was actually the case of what happened. But somebody knew more than they were letting people know."
Hochul's remarks came a day after she stripped the local district attorney of the case, citing a lack of confidence in that office's ability to proceed. James, who has faced questions about a Facebook post expressing support for Doe, declined to comment on whether that post could compromise her impartiality. Hochul voiced full trust in James, saying she has "every confidence in our attorney general to do what she has always done: look at the facts, examine the record, and draw the proper conclusions."
University President Michael Kotlikoff has reportedly agreed to an independent external review of Cornell's handling of the case, a move Hochul said she welcomed. "They're having a board meeting," she noted. "They had immediate willingness to go out and find what I've asked for outside counsel to conduct a fully independent investigation. I'm waiting for those results."
The controversy has already drawn sharp criticism from state and federal lawmakers, with some calling for greater accountability at the university. The case also underscores broader concerns about how colleges and local prosecutors handle sexual assault allegations, particularly when fraternity members are involved. As James's office prepares to review evidence and interview witnesses, the political fallout continues to mount for both Cornell and the local justice system.
