New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged to close a legal loophole that has allowed alleged rapists to avoid charges when victims were voluntarily intoxicated, following outcry over a 2024 case at Cornell University. The case involves allegations that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and raped a student with ketamine. The original investigation, conducted two years ago, resulted in no charges, sparking public anger and a civil lawsuit from the alleged victim. Governor Hochul has appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to reopen the investigation and is working with the New York State Legislature to close the loophole. Advocates, like Shiwali Patel from the National Women’s Law Centre, highlight the loophole’s significant impact on college campus sexual assault cases, where alcohol and drugs are often involved. Hochul criticized the initial investigation, stating the victim provided a clear account of the assault to police.