Cornell University hires Sally Yates to review sexual assault case

Key Points:

• Cornell University has appointed Sally Yates, former deputy attorney general under Obama, to lead an independent review of the school's handling of sexual assault allegations, including a high-profile October 2024 fraternity gang rape case.
• Yates and her firm, King & Spalding, will have access to Cornell’s internal documents and records related to Greek life oversight, law enforcement communications, and disciplinary hearings to conduct a thorough investigation.
• Yates, known for her dismissal by President Trump after refusing to defend his travel ban and her role in the Russia investigation, brings extensive Justice Department experience and a history of leading independent probes into sexual misconduct.
• The appointment coincides with a separate active criminal investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into the same Cornell case, highlighting increased scrutiny of the university’s response to sexual assault allegations.
• Cornell’s review will evaluate both the university’s broader policies on sexual assault and its specific actions regarding the Chi Phi fraternity incident, aiming to identify any procedural failures or policy shortcomings.