New York Governor announces new police arrangement after Cornell sexual assault allegations

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new agreement allowing state police to investigate sexual assault complaints at Cornell University following criticism over the university’s handling of allegations made by a former student.

New York: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new agreement allowing state police to investigate sexual assault complaints at Cornell University following criticism over the university’s handling of allegations made by a former student.

The agreement signed by Cornell University and New York State Police on Thursday gives survivors who wish to pursue criminal charges the option of choosing either state police or Cornell University Police to lead their investigations.

They can also request that the Ithaca Police Department or the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office take responsibility for their cases according to the university.

Hochul said every student should feel safe on campus and that people reporting sexual assault must be treated with compassion. She added that their complaints should be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly by law enforcement officials trained to support survivors.

The agreement follows renewed attention to allegations made by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe in a civil lawsuit. She claims that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity pressured her to consume drugs and sexually assaulted her at the fraternity house in October 2024.

The woman initially reported the incident to Cornell police. The local district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges at first but reopened the investigation in September 2026. Lawyers representing some of the accused men have denied the allegations. The claims have not been established in court.

In response to the case, Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation.

Separately former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates has been assigned to conduct an independent review of Cornell University’s handling of sexual misconduct complaints.

The university confirmed that the new arrangement took effect immediately and will remain operational while the independent review is underway.

The agreement is intended to provide survivors with additional options for reporting complaints and determining which law enforcement agency will handle their cases.