New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday vowed to conduct a “fair” investigation into the seven defendants accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed woman at a fraternity party at Cornell University.
James’ investigation into the alleged college gang rape was launched after the filing of a recent lawsuit against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity and several other defendants that has thrust the Ivy League university’s handling of campus sexual assault into the national spotlight.
The remarks to a reporter come as James has repeatedly pushed back on questions about her impartiality, insisting the investigation will be guided by the facts and evidence, not politics.
President Donald Trump, a longtime foe of the attorney general, has also questioned James’ ability to lead an impartial investigation. Trump made the remarks after Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked for his view on Hochul appointing James as special prosecutor in the case.
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“Letitia James is a corrupt person,” Trump said. “She’s totally corrupt, and I can’t imagine it. And I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake. Letitia James is a corrupt person.”
Attorneys for two of the defendants have also sought James’ removal, including Andrew Miltenberg, who represents Gillio Lopes, and Teny Geragos, who represents Winston Lee. The defense attorneys point to a social media post by James that Geragos separately argued in a court filing shows she is “unquestionably biased.”
Just days before Hochul’s appointment, James posted on X in support of the alleged victim, identified in court filings as Jane Doe.
“What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers,” James posted on X Sept. 28. “To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone. We stand with you.”
Hochul has stood by her appointment of James amid the criticism, saying she has “every confidence” the attorney general will “look at the facts, examine the record and draw the proper conclusions.”
James has rejected accusations that she prejudged the case, saying during an attorney general campaign debate that her comments supporting the alleged victim were intended to demonstrate “empathy” and insisting that “politics stops at the door” of her office.
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The case centers on allegations from a Cornell student that she was gang raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house party in 2024. Her allegations were investigated by Cornell University Police, which submitted her six-page sworn statement to the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors declined to pursue charges at the time, concluding that the conduct described in the statement did not provide sufficient evidence to sustain criminal charges under New York law.
Cornell separately conducted a Title IX investigation that resulted in disciplinary action against several of the seven defendants, including the expulsion of two students and suspension of two others.