
New York AG James takes over Cornell rape probe as Hochul vows to close consent law loophole
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to investigate the 2024 alleged gang rape of a Cornell student, citing failures by local authorities. Hochul criticized the Tompkins County District Attorney for not reviewing a key police transcript where the victim stated she was '100% confident' she was raped. The governor also vowed to change state law to close a loophole that excludes victims who voluntarily became intoxicated. Cornell has agreed to an independent external review of its handling of the case, while students and alumni have demanded accountability and harsher disciplinary actions.













