NEW YORK (WABC) — The Cornell rape accuser was “failed” by people obligated to protect her, including police and the prosecutor, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said at a news conference on Friday.
A visibly outraged Hochul blasted Cornell University Police, the Tompkins County District Attorney and the state’s rape laws before introducing Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the controversial case
James told a packed news conference at the governors office that this is now “an active criminal investigation.” She pledged a full and fair investigation.
“Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly, that they will be seen and heard, that is the promise of our justice system,” James said.
Hochul said the system failed Jane Doe. Information from her interview with police was not passed to the district attorney, who then failed to interview her.
“I am deeply disturbed by Cornell University’s police and how they handled this,” Hochul said. She said sending a “partial record” to the district attorney was a failure.
Gov. Kathy Hochul gave details on why she has turned the case over to a special prosecutor.
“In what world would the police learn from the victim that she had been literally been gang raped” and that she believed “100%” she had been raped and not elevate those allegations, Hochul said.
Hochul claimed the Tompkins County district attorney then did not do the “bare minimum” and interview the woman after receiving the six-page police report.
“In what world does the district attorney not interview her or even request the full transcript?” Hochul asked, again. That is “exactly why we’re here today and why I took the action last night.”
Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten told ABC News CUPD’s six-page summary of Jane Doe’s allegations convinced him no crime occurred.
Hochul also took the opportunity call for a change in the state law around voluntary intoxication in cases of sexual assault. She said lawmakers must address this part of the law as soon as possible.
Jane Doe’s attorney said he and his client are “pleased” the governor appointed a special prosecutor because “contradictions between the district attorney’s statements and those of the Cornell police have been shocking.”
Van Houten said Friday he supports the governor’s decision to remove him from the case and pledged his cooperation with the attorney general.
Cornell has also endorsed Hochul’s decision to remove the DA from the case and assign it to James.
“We fully support the appointment of a special prosecutor and efforts to change New York State’s rape law and are committed to an independent external review of all aspects of how Cornell has handled this case,” a spokesperson said.
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