New York Attorney General Letitia James is considered too political and biased to conduct a fair investigation into the seven Cornell University fraternity brothers accused of raping a female classmate, according to various critics and politicians.
Prior to being appointed as the special prosecutor in the case by Governor Kathy Hochul, James expressed sympathy for the accuser on social media. Since then, she has remained silent regarding these comments.
Rensselaer County Executive Steven McLaughlin, who faced charges of grand larceny and election fraud from James in 2021 but was acquitted, warned that the “Cornell Seven” should brace themselves because James has shown a lack of impartiality in the past.
“She’s clearly engaged in targeted persecutions and prosecutions,” McLaughlin remarked, stating that he was a victim of her politically motivated actions. “I’m not fully aware of this case’s details, but I suspect she’ll go after these guys rather than allow justice to take its course.”
This sentiment echoed the concerns of others, including former President Trump, who anticipated that the accused wouldn’t receive a “fair shake” under James, branding her a “corrupt person.”
James previously won a substantial civil judgment against Trump’s business for reportedly misrepresenting its value, though that ruling was overturned last year by a state appeals court.
“Like the actions taken against the president, it seems Attorney General James has already made up her mind about this situation without having all the information,” said Staten Island City Councilman Frank Morano, expressing doubts about her fairness and objectivity.
Council Minority Leader David Carr emphasized that James has a history of making inflammatory public statements about those she investigates, which complicates her ability to act as a special prosecutor in a case where fairness is essential.
“She commented on this case before even being appointed. While the allegations need serious investigation, the accused also deserve due process,” Carr added.
Melissa DeRosa, a former aide to ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, also raised concerns regarding James’s appointment, suggesting that Hochul was seeking a political solution amid media scrutiny. “Tish James is known for her political motives; in this situation, it’s crucial that the focus shifts away from headlines and centers on the law,” DeRosa said.
Joe Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant, expressed his “zero faith” in James’s ability to conduct a lawful investigation. “An outsider should have been appointed for this job,” he argued, adding that James’s prior Facebook post was inappropriate.
Hochul’s office did not respond to requests for comment, and James dodged questions concerning her involvement during an unrelated event in the Bronx. Nevertheless, Hochul assured reporters she trusted James to thoroughly review the evidence and reach appropriate conclusions.
The case gained national attention after a “Jane Doe” lawsuit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleging that seven fraternity brothers raped her at Cornell’s Phi Chi fraternity house in October 2024.
The lawsuit claims the men provided her with alcohol and ketamine, leading to an extended sexual assault. During the incident, one of them allegedly informed a 50-person fraternity Snapchat group about the activity, suggesting there was “free p–sy” available in the house.
The accused fraternity members have all denied any wrongdoing.
Cornell previously performed an internal Title IX investigation, which included 12 hearings. The lawsuit notes that two out of the seven were expelled, but critics argue that the consequences were insufficient.
There were also allegations that not all evidence or statements made by Doe were shared with local authorities, preventing further prosecution.
— Additional reporting by Tina Moore
