New York Governor Kathy Hochul has taken the extraordinary step of removing Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten from the investigation into an alleged gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house.
The case, which involves allegations that a woman was drugged and assaulted by seven men in 2024, was previously stalled when Van Houten’s office declined to file charges, citing a lack of evidence.
Hochul’s intervention follows a civil lawsuit filed by the victim last month, which brought the details of the incident into the national spotlight and raised serious questions about the initial handling of the evidence. Van Houten has faced sharp criticism from the victim's legal team, who accused him of shifting his narrative as public pressure mounted.
While the District Attorney previously claimed he lacked sufficient evidence to meet the legal threshold for prosecution, he has since reopened the case, claiming he was not provided with all relevant information—including a Snapchat group chat where fraternity members allegedly discussed the encounter.
Attorney General Letitia James will now lead the investigation, with the authority to present evidence to a grand jury and pursue criminal charges.
The Governor’s move signals a lack of faith in local law enforcement to handle high-profile campus crimes, shifting the burden to the state’s chief legal officer to determine if the 'Cornell Seven' will face justice.
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