Cornell rape allegations renew push to change New York sexual assault law
Summary
New York lawmakers want to change the state’s sexual assault laws after prosecutors said current rules made it hard to charge a gang rape case at Cornell University. The proposed law would allow prosecutors to focus on whether a person could consent to sex, even if they drank alcohol or took drugs willingly.Key Facts
- New York law now only considers someone unable to consent if they were unknowingly given drugs or alcohol.
- Lawmakers are proposing bills (S10632 and Assembly Bill A101) to change this and include those who got intoxicated voluntarily.
- The goal is to stop blaming survivors who chose to drink or take drugs before a sexual assault.
- The push gained attention after a prosecutor said current laws stopped charges against students accused of assaulting a woman at Cornell.
- The woman, called Jane Doe, claims she was given alcohol and ketamine and sexually assaulted while incapacitated.
- The prosecutor said at first the case didn’t meet the legal standards because the woman didn’t claim involuntary intoxication or clearly withdraw consent.
- After public criticism, the prosecutor’s office reopened the case and plans to bring it to a grand jury.
- Cornell University said it investigated the allegations and defended how it handled the case.
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