Target: Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York
Goal: Bring actions of district attorney in Cornell alleged rape case under investigation.
Controversy erupted when a former Cornell University student renewed accusations initially made in 2024 against seven then-members of a fraternity on the school’s campus. The female student, referenced as “Jane Doe,” filed a lawsuit against her fellow students, claiming they plied her with drugs and alcohol and then gang-raped her during a party. The shocking allegations have sparked an independent investigation, a potential no-confidence vote against the head of the university, and a wider debate about responses to such accusations by individuals in positions of power.
As part of the civil lawsuit, the alleged victim claimed school officials failed to act in her best interests. Questions have emerged about how much information Jane Doe had disclosed to campus authorities was ultimately provided to law enforcement. The school is facing an investigation because of these claims, but they are not the only ones under scrutiny. The district attorney, when presented with a summary of Doe’s account of the night, reportedly declined to even bring the case before a grand jury. He would later claim that the account he received omitted language concerning coercion and rape, and he subsequently laid the blame entirely on school officials. But some who have examined the account given to the DA argue that several references to a lack of consent and even to possible crimes committed could be found within the account. New York’s governor has since appointed an independent prosecutor to the case, citing that she had “lost faith in the Tompkins County DA’s ability to fairly oversee” the case.
If this prosecutor in any way shielded this case from public scrutiny, he, too, should be held accountable. Sign the petition below to ensure this accountability.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Governor Hochul,
Cornell University may have mishandled aspects of the Jane Doe case, but at the very least dozens of interviews, multiple disciplinary hearings, an appeals process, and punitive reprimands resulted from the accusations. All involved parties had opportunity to plead their cases. The district attorney’s office, on the other hand, declined to even present the case before a grand jury and to give the people of New York the opportunity to determine if criminal charges were warranted.
While the university is rightly under investigation for their handling of the case, the district attorney’s office continues to pass the buck and deny any responsibility for its own potential errors. A part of you must agree, as you unequivocally stated that you had “lost faith in the Tompkins County DA” in regard to this case. Please take the next necessary step and order a review of his conduct. The people should have confidence that their public servants will always act for the public good.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: John4Numbers
