NEW YORK (WABC) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that the Cornell student who reported being raped was failed by the very institutions responsible for protecting her, including law enforcement and the district attorney’s office.
During an emotionally charged news conference, Hochul sharply criticized Cornell University Police, the Tompkins County district attorney and New York’s sexual assault laws. She also announced that Attorney General Letitia James would serve as special prosecutor in the highly scrutinized case.
Speaking to reporters at the governor’s office, James said the matter is now an “active criminal investigation.” She promised that her office would conduct a thorough and impartial review.
“Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly, that they will be seen and heard,” James said. “That is the promise of our justice system.”
Hochul said the system failed Jane Doe after details from her interview with police were not forwarded to the district attorney. The prosecutor, she said, subsequently did not interview the woman.
“I am deeply disturbed by Cornell University’s police and how they handled this,” Hochul said. She described the decision to send prosecutors only a “partial record” as a serious failure.
Hochul questioned how police could learn from the alleged victim that she believed she had been “100%” raped and reported that she had been gang raped, yet fail to elevate those accusations for further investigation.
She also accused the Tompkins County district attorney of failing to take even the “bare minimum” step of speaking with Jane Doe after receiving the six-page police report.
“In what world does the district attorney not interview her or even request the full transcript?” Hochul said. “That is exactly why we’re here today and why I took the action last night.”
Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten told ABC News that the six-page summary prepared by Cornell University Police led him to conclude that no crime had occurred.
Hochul also renewed her call to revise New York law governing voluntary intoxication in sexual assault cases. She urged lawmakers to address that provision as quickly as possible.
Jane Doe’s attorney said he and his client were “pleased” by the appointment of a special prosecutor, citing what he called “shocking” contradictions between statements from the district attorney and Cornell police.
Van Houten said Friday that he supports Hochul’s decision to remove him from the investigation and pledged to cooperate fully with James and the attorney general’s office.
Cornell University also backed the governor’s decision to replace the district attorney and transfer the case to James.
“We fully support the appointment of a special prosecutor and efforts to change New York State’s rape law and are committed to an independent external review of all aspects of how Cornell has handled this case,” a spokesperson said.
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