NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx/AP via CNN Newsource

By Eric Levenson

(CNN) - When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James to take over the investigation into an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house at Cornell University, she asked for a  fresh and thorough  review of all the evidence.

And there is a lot of evidence.

Far from the two-party  he said-she said  structure of many sexual assault allegations, the Cornell case features seven men accused of wrongdoing in a civil suit filed by the woman known as Jane Doe. There are interviews with Doe, the accused men and other witnesses; scores of texts and Snapchat posts; secretly recorded phone calls; and lengthy, conflicting reports from the police, district attorney and university investigators about who knew what when.

In all, it's a far cry from the limited evidence the local prosecutor said he reviewed before deciding not to bring charges in 2024.

Putting the array of evidence together represents the primary task ahead for James, the special prosecutor tasked with leading the investigation and considering whether to bring charges. How the investigation proceeds will be closely watched by community members, university students and advocacy groups across the country.

 There is literally an avalanche of statements to collect in this case that apparently were not reviewed by the original prosecutor,  said Paul DerOhannesian, an Albany-based attorney and author of  Sexual Assault Trials. 

 Getting all those statements is a big task,  he said.

Mimi Rocah, former Westchester County district attorney and former federal prosecutor, likened the work ahead to  putting the pieces of the puzzle together. 

Hochul laid out the questions James will try to answer in a news conference on October 2.

 Attorney General James will be the one who puts a spotlight on this case and says,  Who knew what when?'  What did they do wrong?'  Why didn't they come forward?' and  How was this woman denied justice?' and we anticipate that will come out over the right period of time,  Hochul said.

For James, the investigation faces several key cha
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