Hochul Slams Cornell Police and Prosecutors Over 'Grave Failures,' Names AG James Special Prosecutor
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on October 2 sharply criticized Cornell University police and local prosecutors for "grave failures" in a campus case investigation, appointing Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to take over, USA Today and the New York Post reported.
Hochul said the investigation suffered major lapses in evidence preservation and victim protection, eroding public trust, and that a takeover by the attorney general's office is needed to restore confidence. James's office will re-examine all case materials.
Hochul also announced a legislative push to close the "voluntary intoxication" loophole in state law, saying current statutes let some sexual-assault defendants exploit victims' intoxication to evade accountability, and that the fix would clarify conviction standards.
Cornell said it will fully cooperate with the attorney general's investigation. Campus sexual-assault handling has sparked controversy at multiple U.S. universities in recent years; New York's state-level intervention is seen as strengthening accountability for campus cases and could prompt similar legislative moves in other states.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 康奈尔大学校园，Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0，摄影：P. Hughes
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