New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the investigation of an alleged gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house.

Hochul issued an executive order on Thursday directing James to take over the case from Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. The move came after new details from a civil lawsuit filed last month prompted doubts about the handling of the matter by campus police and local prosecutors.

The allegations center on an incident in October 2024 involving a then-20-year-old Cornell student who claimed she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The woman, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, reported the matter to university police weeks after the event, but no criminal charges resulted at the time.

Hochul stated that the newly released information undercut confidence in the district attorney's ability to investigate and prosecute the case fairly. As special prosecutor, James has authority to conduct a full investigation, prosecute any offenses if warranted, and present evidence to a grand jury.

James said her office stands ready to lead a process guided by the facts and the law. The woman's attorney, Thomas Giuffra, welcomed the appointment and noted plans to request it due to lack of confidence in the local district attorney.

Van Houten had announced days earlier that his office would reopen the investigation following backlash over the initial decision not to pursue charges. Cornell University has faced scrutiny over its response, and the local chapter of the fraternity was barred from campus.

The case gained renewed attention after the lawsuit detailed the woman's claims and highlighted gaps in the original probe. Hochul emphasized that the victim deserves a thorough examination of every fact.

Both Hochul and James are Democrats serving in statewide offices. The appointment shifts oversight away from the elected county prosecutor amid ongoing questions about the initial response to the allegations.