Cornell president backs special prosecutor and orders independent review

Kotlikoff said the university must do better as the state attorney general takes over the criminal probe.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:09:07 GMT

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff issued a video statement on Saturday supporting Governor Kathy Hochul’s appointment of Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor in the alleged 2024 Chi Phi fraternity gang‑rape case and announced an independent external review.

What happened

The alleged assault, described in a September 2026 lawsuit, claims seven Chi Phi members raped and sexually assaulted an intoxicated student identified as Jane Doe in October 2024. The case prompted a criminal probe that was reopened after the lawsuit, but the Tompkins County district attorney, Matthew Van Houten, declined to bring charges, citing the victim’s six‑page statement. Governor Hochul appointed AG Letitia James as special prosecutor on October 1, 2026.

What the reports add

DailyMail reported that Kotlikoff shared a video message expressing “support for the governor’s decision” and acknowledging “questions have been raised about the university’s handling of the case two years ago.” The New York Post added that Kotlikoff said the incident is “deeply disturbing” and called it “a defining moment” for Cornell, while also noting that the board will retain an independent law firm to review the university’s response.

What was said

In the video, Kotlikoff told NBC News, via the DailyMail, that the accuser’s lawyer Thomas Giuffra said the victim is “hanging on by a string” and that the case “upended her life.” Kotlikoff told the New York Post that “we must do better” and that the university will “retain an independent review from an outside law firm next week.”

How it came about

The controversy follows a series of earlier developments covered by Felo News: the district attorney’s decision to rely on the victim’s initial statement (Cornell DA skipped police statements), Jake Tapper’s interview with DA Van Houten (Tapper confronts Cornell DA), a student‑government hearing demanding accountability (Cornell community rallies), and Hochul’s appointment of James as special prosecutor (Governor appoints special prosecutor). The president’s statement marks the latest institutional response.

Key facts

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff issued a video statement supporting Letitia James as special prosecutor (dailymail.co.uk)
The university will retain an independent law‑firm review of its handling of the case (nypost.com)
The alleged assault involved seven Chi Phi fraternity members and a student identified as Jane Doe in October 2024 (dailymail.co.uk)