New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stood by her criticism of the so-called “Cornell 7” despite accusations that she prejudged the case.
The Democratic governor said the woman identified only as Jane Doe had been “failed at every turn” after she filed a civil lawsuit alleging that members of the Chi Phi fraternity coerced her into taking drugs and sexually assaulted her at an off-campus house in 2024.
Prosecutors initially concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to pursue criminal sexual assault charges. The investigation has since been reopened, with Hochul appointing New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.
The seven men—Umar Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar—have denied the allegations.
Lopes and Lee have asked the court to remove James from the case, arguing that public comments by the attorney general and Hochul demonstrate bias.
During Tuesday’s New York gubernatorial debate, Hochul was pressed over claims that her remarks could undermine an impartial investigation.
“I’m not prosecuting this case. It seemed very clear that the boys in the fraternity are trying to cover up what they had done. A lot of acknowledgments, a lot of texts that are coming up,” she said.
“So I said this. I want there to be an independent investigation. That’s underway. But it also became clear to me that the district attorney had already denied the opportunity to interview this young woman.”
Kathy Hochul was challenged over her remarks about the alleged Cornell fraternity sexual assault case during the New York gubernatorial debate
The Democratic governor previously said Jane Doe had been “failed at every turn” after she filed a civil lawsuit alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members coerced her into taking drugs and sexually assaulted her at an off-campus house in 2024
Hochul added: “I come from a family of prosecutors. You should know enough to interview a victim of a crime and not just dismiss it. That’s why the law says the governor shall appoint the attorney general in cases of special prosecutions. The attorney general can speak for herself on the tweet.”
Several days before Hochul named James special prosecutor, the governor wrote on X: “What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers.”
Later in the debate, Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman criticized Hochul for not calling for an investigation when prosecutors initially closed the case two years ago.
“As a trustee and as governor, you didn’t call for an independent investigation when you found out that the district attorney was dropping the case. Shame on you,” Blakeman said.
Hochul replied: “I did. You know, that’s pretty pathetic to blame me for what happened in a fraternity. My gosh.”
“No, I’m blaming you for the investigation afterward,” Blakeman responded.
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According to Doe’s lawsuit, Ingalls invited her to the fraternity house on October 19, 2024, after a night of drinking in Ithaca.
She alleges that she was pressured to take ketamine and given marijuana and high-proof alcohol before being repeatedly sexually assaulted as other fraternity members entered the room.
Although prosecutors initially declined to charge the men, Cornell expelled two of the accused fraternity members, Jonathan Newell and Matthew Ingalls
The lawsuit alleges that during the assault, Newell posted in a “Chi Phi Actives” Snapchat group that there was “free p***y” upstairs, referring to Doe
Doe’s lawsuit sparked national outrage over the handling of the case, and Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor
The complaint alleges seven men eventually participated and that Doe became ‘completely incapacitated.’ It also claims that during the assault, Newell posted to a ‘Chi Phi Actives’ Snapchat group that there was ‘free p***y’ upstairs, referring to Doe.
Since the bombshell lawsuit was filed in September, dozens of texts between Doe and the fraternity brothers have emerged, shedding new light on the days, weeks and months that followed the alleged incident.
On September 29, Hochul released a statement addressing the lawsuit’s allegations.
‘The allegations in this case are nothing short of horrifying. For any student to come forward after an experience like this takes extraordinary courage. No student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act,’ she said.
‘I support the district attorney’s decision to reopen the criminal investigation. But there are also serious questions about Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response.
‘That is why I am calling for outside counsel to conduct a transparent, independent review of the university’s response to determine whether Cornell met every obligation to protect its students and pursue justice.’
Days later, on October 2, Hochul appointed the special prosecutor and held a press conference with James to discuss the investigation.
‘In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?’ Hochul said.
‘This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her.’
The governor continued: ‘After this young woman came forward, she spoke to the police. She sat for hours and told them exactly what happened to her. And according to new reports, she could not have been clearer that she was 100 percent confident that she had been raped.
‘Yet, shockingly, those words never made it into the account that the Cornell police sent to prosecutors.’
