Skip to Content

CNN – National

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten appeared on CNN this week.

A ‘loophole’ in New York’s rape law may have shut the door on criminal charges in the Cornell case. It’s not the first time

By Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN New York (CNN) — Resurfaced allegations of a gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house have renewed outrage over what experts call a legal “loophole” in New York’s – and other states’ – sexual assault laws that can make it nearly impossible for survivors to seek justice if they voluntarily

Continue Reading
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten appears on CNN on Tuesday

Special prosecutor taking over investigation of Cornell University gang rape allegations as new details emerge

By Isa Mudannayake, Jake Tapper, Danya Gainor, Jason Carroll, Gloria Pazmino, Alex Stambaugh, Jeff Winter, CNN (CNN) — New York State Attorney General Letitia James will be taking over as special prosecutor in the case alleging sexual assault at Cornell University, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, saying she “lost faith” in the district attorney’s ability

Continue Reading
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in Ithaca

Special prosecutor taking over investigation of Cornell University gang rape allegations as new details emerge

CNN By Isa Mudannayake, Jake Tapper, Danya Gainor, Jason Carroll, Gloria Pazmino, Alex Stambaugh, Jeff Winter, CNN (CNN) — New York State Attorney General Letitia James will be taking over as special prosecutor in the case alleging sexual assault at Cornell University, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, saying she “lost faith” in the district attorney’s

Continue Reading
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in Ithaca

What Cornell’s Jane Doe told investigators in 2024 prompts fresh questions in newly reopened investigation

WSTM, CNN By Danya Gainor, Jason Carroll, Gloria Pazmino, Chris Boyette, Cindy Von Quednow, Avni Trivedi, CNN (CNN) — The former Cornell University student who says she was gang raped made an explicit accusation of sexual assault in an interview with university police in November 2024, but the district attorney said university police didn’t share

Continue Reading
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in Ithaca

A ‘loophole’ in New York’s rape law may have shut the door on criminal charges in the Cornell case. It’s not the first time

CNN By Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN New York (CNN) — Resurfaced allegations of a gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house have renewed outrage over what experts call a legal “loophole” in New York’s – and other states’ – sexual assault laws that can make it nearly impossible for survivors to seek justice if they

Continue Reading
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in Ithaca

What Cornell’s Jane Doe told investigators in 2024 prompts fresh questions in newly reopened investigation

By Danya Gainor, Jason Carroll, Gloria Pazmino, Chris Boyette, Cindy Von Quednow, Avni Trivedi, CNN (CNN) — The former Cornell University student who says she was gang raped made an explicit accusation of sexual assault in an interview with university police in November 2024, but the district attorney said university police didn’t share that document

Continue Reading
Stanford students wear a 1/3 sign on their caps to show solidarity for a Stanford rape victim during graduation ceremonies at Stanford University

Alleged gang rape at Cornell turns spotlight on campus sexual assault

By Brittany Shammas, Lauren Mascarenhas, Taylor Galgano, CNN (CNN) — It was 7:05 p.m. on a Wednesday in mid-September when Jane Doe’s lawsuit hit the New York County Supreme Court docket. Within days, the 101-page, double-spaced filing had captured the nation’s attention, sparking outrage and controversy and refocusing attention on a longstanding issue: sexual assault

Continue Reading
Firefighters run as building explodes after gas leak in February 2025.

A business exploded after an 89-year-old pipe in the street failed, highlighting need for natural gas detectors, NTSB says

By Aaron Cooper, CNN (CNN) — A joint welded between two huge gas pipes nearly 90 years ago and buried under a street failed and caused a Kansas auto parts store to explode in flames, the National Transportation Safety Board determined in a report released Tuesday. The incident has prompted the agency to highlight recommendations

Continue Reading