New York attorney-general to oversee Cornell rape investigation

The New York Attorney General has been assigned as a special prosecutor. ( AP: Heather Ainsworth )

New York's governor has appointed a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University, saying she had lost faith in the local district attorney's ability to handle the case.

The county's district attorney had announced he would reopen the investigation earlier this week after news of the alleged sex assault made headlines across the globe.

The case has raised questions regarding how such incidents are handled on college campuses.

New York's governor has appointed a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into a woman's allegations of gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house, saying she had lost faith in the local district attorney's ability to handle the case.

Governor Kathy Hochul said she had signed an executive order appointing the office of New York Attorney-General Letitia James as the special prosecutor.

"Newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to prosecute an alleged sexual assault on Cornell University's campus in October 2024," Ms Hochul said.

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