New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she is appointing state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the Cornell University gang rape case. The move sidelines Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who had declined to bring charges in the matter.
Hochul issued an executive order citing newly released information that she said raised serious questions about both the Cornell Police Department’s investigation and the DA’s decision not to prosecute. “This new information has undercut my faith, and the public’s faith, in the District Attorney’s ability to effectively investigate and prosecute the case at this time,” Hochul said.
Why Van Houten Declined to Prosecute
Van Houten had repeatedly stated that the evidence did not support charges. He pointed to a 2024 statement the then-20-year-old complainant made to campus police indicating that events on the night in question were consensual, a position reportedly supported by text messages she sent at the time.
The newly released information that prompted Hochul’s intervention centers on an additional statement attributed to the complainant, in which she allegedly said, “I can say with 100 percent I was raped.” According to Letitia James Cornell appointment, that claim was enough for Hochul to issue the executive order transferring jurisdiction to the attorney general’s office.
Letitia James Accepts the Assignment
James released a statement accepting the role and pledging a thorough review. “Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly,” James said. “The Governor has entrusted my office with this investigation, and we do not take that responsibility lightly.”
Critics have raised concerns about James taking on the case, pointing to past controversies including allegations of mortgage fraud and her prior pledges, made while campaigning, to pursue specific targets before investigations were complete. James has previously faced scrutiny over her office’s handling of high-profile cases, most notably a civil fraud lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.
What Comes Next for the Case
With James now in control, her office will conduct its own investigation into both the alleged assault and the conduct of the Cornell Police Department. It remains unclear how long that review will take or whether it will result in criminal charges against any of the seven men implicated in the original complaint.
The case has drawn intense national attention, with the complainant also pursuing a large civil lawsuit. Van Houten’s office has not publicly said whether it will cooperate with the special prosecutor or contest the executive order transferring authority.
Except there’s just one problem with all of this… how can Letitia James be trusted to do anything after the last few years of her insane lawfare against President Donald Trump and her own issues?
What was Kathy Hochul thinking?
