Education & Career
Hochul names special prosecutor in Cornell case against 7
Hindustan Times··3 Oct
Governor Kathy Hochul said Thursday that New York's attorney general would become special prosecutor. The step follows a lawsuit against seven Chi Phi members and Cornell. Matthew Van Houten reopened the probe after first declining to charge. Cornell said it suspended Chi Phi and ran 50 interviews after the 2024 report. Several accused men denied nonconsensual sex or any contact.
Prism
What It Means For You
- The state attorney general now leads the criminal probe in place of the county prosecutor.
- Chi Phi remains barred from the Cornell campus under the university's 2024 suspension.
- Civil claims against seven fraternity members and the university continue in the new lawsuit.
What's Happening
- Hochul announced the special prosecutor appointment on Thursday.
- Van Houten had said he lacked evidence the woman was raped or drugged against her will.
- Cornell said its review included 50 interviews, 32 witnesses and 12 days of hearings.
What the record shows so far
- A campus police transcript quoted the woman saying she was raped.
- Van Houten said he relied on a police summary and did not read the full interview transcript.
- School officials said some students were expelled or suspended but gave no counts.
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