Investigation into Alleged Sexual Assault at Cornell: Governor Hochul Faces Criticism

Amid the ongoing investigation into accusations of sexual assault involving seven men at Cornell University, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has attracted criticism for her participation in a Netflix documentary about the case. While none of the men have been criminally charged, Hochul has been questioned for her comments on the allegations.

In October, Hochul signed an executive order naming New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor in the case. The documentary titled “Instadocs: Jane Doe v. Cornell” features Hochul around 13 minutes in, where she shares her reaction to the case.

During an interview in the documentary, Hochul expressed her disgust, stating, “My first reaction was how disgusting, not again. You feel like, not again.” Reflecting on her college experience at Syracuse University in the late 1970s, she recalled a sense of anxiety due to a series of rapes during her first week on campus.

Hochul condemned the ongoing “culture” surrounding sexual assault, lamenting the lack of change over the years.

“The number of people involved and the repugnancy of her allegations would’ve drawn you to local police department fairly quickly,” she added.

Jane Doe’s allegations gained national attention following a civil lawsuit against seven Cornell Chi Phi fraternity members, the university, her sorority, and others. She claims she was drugged and gang raped in a frat house in 2024.

The case has revived scrutiny of a little-known New York law concerning intoxicated victims. Despite initially reporting her allegations to local law enforcement, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that investigators found the alleged facts did not constitute a crime.

Hochul addressed law enforcement’s handling of the allegations during her interview.

In her remarks, she said, “In a situation like this, you want to make sure that people believe in the process.”

Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno, a Fox News contributor, criticized Hochul’s documentary appearance, warning that her comments raise concerns over fairness in prosecution.

“The governor can say anything she wants about anything. The question is, should she? The problem you have here is there has already been the air of impropriety,” Rotunno commented.

Rotunno questioned the timing of Hochul’s involvement, asking why the governor intervened two years after the allegations first surfaced. She suggested the issue should have been on Hochul’s radar sooner.

When asked by Fox News Digital about her decision to participate in the documentary, a spokesperson for Hochul replied: “Governors routinely speak to news and media organizations about matters of significant public interest.”