Letitia James Takes Cornell Probe

What happened

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor over the Cornell University sexual-assault case. Doe’s September lawsuit against seven men, Cornell, Chi Phi and other defendants intensified scrutiny of the earlier criminal handling. Hochul said new information raised questions about Cornell Police and District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s decision not to prosecute. Doe alleges several Chi Phi members drugged, raped and gang raped her in 2024. James said her office would investigate fairly and seek charges or a grand jury if warranted. Van Houten said Doe’s police statement differed from the lawsuit, and his office relied on Cornell Police. He now says he will reopen the case, while Cornell agreed to an independent review.

How each side covered it

From the left

Left-leaning accounts cast the appointment as a confidence crisis in local handling, not just a case reassignment. The New York Times anchored that view in Hochul saying she had lost faith in the county prosecutor’s ability to oversee it fairly. The Guardian foregrounded the alleged fraternity gang rape and Hochul’s call for an independent, unbiased investigation.

From the right

Only one right-leaning outlet we track covered this: New York Post, under the headline “Hochul appoints AG Letitia James to take over ‘Cornell 7’ gang rape probe after losing faith in…”.

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Letitia James Takes Cornell Probe

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