A criminal investigation has been opened into the allegations of a group rape that occurred at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in 2024. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced this at a press conference. “I know you want answers. I want them too. A thorough investigation of this nature takes time, but my office is committed to completing it,” she told reporters. “Although we are limited in the information we can share, we will provide updates as they become available,” she added.

For New York Governor Kathy Hochul, it is time to amend state law on sexual violence as soon as possible, because current statutes do not protect victims who voluntarily intoxicated themselves. “A person can be too drunk to give consent, but it should not matter whether they chose to take drugs or alcohol,” Hochul said at a press conference, adding that “voluntarily getting drunk is not a license for sexual violence or gang rape. Period.” Hochul said this legislative gap must be closed and that she will work with the New York State Legislature to achieve that goal.

Hochul said that Jane Doe, who reported the group rape, was repeatedly failed by the institutions that should have protected her. “This young woman has already suffered something absolutely unspeakable and was left on her own by people and institutions that should have protected her,” Hochul said, naming Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor and saying a new investigation will be conducted and criminal proceedings initiated if the facts warrant them. “No institution can protect its reputation at the expense of a young person seeking justice,” Hochul said. No public official can “look the other way when the system fails and lets down our young people,” she added.