Nimah Alabi
New York Attorney Genera,l Letitia James has been appointed special prosecutor to investigate allegations surrounding a 2024 sexual assault case involving a former Cornell University student identified in court documents as Jane Doe.
New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, appointed James on October 1, following renewed scrutiny of the handling of the case and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office not to bring criminal charges when the allegations were first investigated.
Hochul said newly released information had raised serious questions about the investigation and had affected her confidence in the county prosecutor’s ability to oversee the case.
The case dates back to October 19–20, 2024, when Jane Doe was a 20-year-old Cornell student. She alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by several men at the Chi Phi fraternity house.
In a civil lawsuit filed in September 2026, she named seven former fraternity members, Cornell University and other parties as defendants.
The seven men have not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations. Jane Doe initially reported the incident to Cornell police in November 2024.
The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office subsequently declined to pursue criminal charges.
The investigation was reopened in September 2026 after the civil lawsuit and additional information brought renewed attention to the case.
Documents and interview transcripts released during the renewed investigation have also drawn attention to differences between Jane Doe’s detailed account to investigators and the sworn statement that was provided to prosecutors.
The county district attorney has said he did not see the transcript containing some of the details of her account at the time the initial decision was made.
James said her office would conduct the investigation based on the facts and the law.
Her appointment means the state attorney general’s office will now take responsibility for the criminal investigation rather than leaving it solely with the local district attorney.
The case has also generated the #IAmJaneDoe movement on social media, with supporters using the hashtag to express solidarity with the accuser while protecting her identity.
Her lawyer said she has received threats connected to the case and efforts to pressure her to withdraw her civil lawsuit.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the seven men have not been established in criminal court.
