NewsWPLG Local 10October 29, 2026Miami-Dade County
Man accused in Cornell rape lawsuit seeks to remove New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor
Photo: WPLG Local 10
A state judge heard arguments on Thursday on whether to remove New York Attorney General Letitia James from overseeing a criminal investigation into gang rape allegations at Cornell University due to prior social media posts. Lawyers for one of the accused men argue James's statements supporting the accuser show bias, while the attorney general's office maintains the challenge lacks merit.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10Why It Matters
The court ruling will determine whether Attorney General Letitia James remains as the investigating the allegations, or if Governor Kathy Hochul must appoint a different prosecutor to handle the case.
Key Facts
- A state judge heard arguments on whether to remove New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in a criminal probe.
- The challenge was brought by one of the men accused in a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student alleging gang rape.
- The legal challenge argues James is biased because she posted messages supporting the accuser on social media prior to her appointment.
- Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on Oct. 1, 2024, naming James as special prosecutor after the local district attorney declined to bring charges in 2024.
- Judge James R. Farrell questioned whether he had the authority to remove James from the cases of other defendants who had not joined the challenge.
- Lawyers for the accused man argued that James's posts showed she had already made up her mind about the defendants' guilt.
- The attorney general's office stated the challenge is without merit and that the governor has the executive power to appoint a special prosecutor.
- Assistant Attorney General Kaitlin Vigars argued that the defendant cannot claim harm since no criminal charges have been filed.
Who's Mentioned
PersonKathy Hochul“Governor of New York”PersonJames R. Farrell“State judge hearing the challenge in Monticello”locationNew York“State jurisdiction”OrganizationNational Rifle Association“Subject of a previous high-profile case led by James”PersonJane Doe“Former Cornell student who filed a lawsuit alleging rape”locationTompkins County“County where Cornell is located”PersonLetitia James“New York Attorney General”OrganizationCornell University“Location of alleged gang rape”PersonKaitlin Vigars“Assistant Attorney General”PersonAndrew Miltenberg“Lawyer for the man fighting James' appointment”locationMonticello“Location of the court hearing”locationManhattan“Reference point for distance to Monticello”PersonAndrew Cuomo“Former Governor”PersonDonald Trump“President”PersonStuart Bernstein“Lawyer for the man fighting James' appointment”PersonMatthew Van Houten“Tompkins County District Attorney”