New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Thursday she had lost faith in the district attorney overseeing the Cornell University rape case and appointed a special prosecutor to replace him.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has come under mounting pressure in recent days over his decision not to prosecute anyone when the initial allegations were made in 2024.

"Newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department and the decision by the Tompkins County District Attorney not to prosecute an alleged sexual assault on Cornell University's campus in October 2024," Hochul said.

"This has, in turn, undercut my faith, and the public's faith, in the District Attorney's ability to effectively investigate and prosecute the case at this time."

Hochul appointed the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James as the speci...