Cornell Case Update: Letitia James Takes Over, New Evidence, Calls & Punishments

Today, we’re catching up on the latest developments in the Cornell University case involving Jane Doe and members of the Chi Phi fraternity. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has removed the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office from the criminal investigation and appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. We break down what that means, why Hochul made the decision, and the controversy surrounding comments James made about Jane Doe before she was appointed. We also go through newly released information about the original Cornell Police investigation and what prosecutors declined to review, the disciplinary punishments Cornell imposed on each of the seven men, newly obtained recorded phone calls between Jane Doe and fraternity members, additional text and Snapchat messages, and questions about evidence Cornell Police attempted to preserve. Plus, we explain Cornell’s potential legal liability, the significance of a drug-related incident at the Chi Phi house hours before the alleged assault, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff’s response, the Faculty Senate’s proposed vote of no confidence, and Governor Hochul’s push to change New York’s sexual-assault laws. This episode covers developments through the morning of October 6, 2026. Get the facts, without the spin. UNBIASED offers a clear, impartial recap of US news, including politics, elections, legal news, and more. Hosted by lawyer Jordan Berman, each episode provides a recap of current political events plus breakdowns of complex concepts—like constitutional rights, recent Supreme Court rulings, and new legislation—in an easy-to-understand way. No personal opinions, just the facts you need to stay informed on the daily news that matters. If you miss how journalism used to be, you're in the right place. ⁠Watch⁠ this episode on YouTube. Follow Jordan on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠. All sources for this episode can be found ⁠here.⁠ PilePad: Get 10% off and FREE Shipping at ⁠PilePad.com⁠. Use promo code UNBIASED. Incogni: Scammers are everywhere! But they can't harm you, if they can't find you! Use code JORDAN at ⁠https://incogni.com/jordan⁠ and get 60% off an annual plan! Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase by going to Bombas.com/UNBIASED and using code UNBIASED at checkout. Quince: Quince.com/UNBIASED for FREE Shipping and 365-day returns. Monarch: Use code UNBIASED at Monarch.com com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Rocket Money: Join at RocketMoney.com/UNBIASED. Cozy Earth: Please let them know you heard it here on UNBIASED POLITICS. Nutrafol: $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping with promo code UNBIASED at nutrafol.com. Article: $50 OFF your first purchase of $100 of more by visiting article.com/unbiased. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices