New York's governor is overseeing an investigation into allegations of gang rape at Cornell University

After allegations of gang rape at an elite US university, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is placing the investigation under supervision. There are “serious questions” about the actions of the local police so far and the district attorney’s decision not to prosecute the case, Hochul said in a statement. That's why the state's attorney general, Letitia James, is being appointed as special prosecutor in the case.

A former student at the prestigious Cornell University accuses seven men of sexually abusing and raping her in a fraternity house on the university's grounds in 2024. She was made submissive with alcohol and drugs. Her statements shortly after the incident did not lead to a trial.

Local authorities have now faced intense criticism since the woman filed a civil lawsuit in mid-September and the incident received widespread attention. Based on the statements there, the local public prosecutor's office wanted to examine the question of whether the case could now be brought to trial.

District Attorney: Woman had not described any crime

The district attorney argues that the woman's original statement did not describe conduct that constituted a criminal offense. However, she is said to have told the police that she had been raped, US media wrote, citing interrogation protocols. The district attorney says he never wants to have seen this statement.

Hochul said trust in the district attorney's ability was undermined. “The young woman at issue in this case has a right to know that every fact will be examined and justice will be pursued,” the governor was quoted as saying. “This measure will ensure that the case is investigated completely and thoroughly, impartially and independently with the necessary care,” said Hochul, referring to the new special investigator.

The New York attorney general will investigate the incident, prosecute suspected crimes and present the evidence to a grand jury. A grand jury is a group of jurors who, after the prosecution presents evidence, decides whether charges can be filed in a case.