Sally Yates, former acting AG who clashed with Trump, leading Cornell assault probe

Key Points:

• Sally Yates, a former deputy U.S. attorney general with extensive experience in investigating abuse and misconduct, has been appointed to lead an independent review of Cornell University's handling of sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct on campus.
• The review follows allegations by a former Cornell student of gang rape and drugging at a fraternity in 2024, which has also prompted an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
• Yates' investigation will assess Cornell's policies and procedures from prevention to response, including how reports are handled, disciplinary actions, student support, and coordination with campus and external law enforcement.
• The review aims to identify strengths and weaknesses in Cornell's approach to sexual misconduct and will result in recommendations to improve campus safety, with findings to be shared publicly.
• Yates is known for her independent stance, including her refusal to enforce the Trump administration's travel ban in 2017 and her leadership of a 2022 probe into systemic abuse in U.S. Soccer.