AG Tish James Dodges Questions on Cornell 7 Probe

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Sunday avoided direct answers when questioned about reports that she is being compelled to recuse herself from the investigation into the "Cornell 7" case and hire an outside counsel. While campaigning for early elections in Crown Heights, James repeatedly steered the conversation back to the election topic when pressed by reporters.

When asked if she was refusing to comment on the matter, James stated, "We're here to talk about early elections." She added, "Cornell’s very serious, and we’ll have something to say about that too." Similarly, when asked if she intended to recuse herself, she responded, "We're gonna have something to say about that too, but today is about early elections."

The investigation stems from claims made by a Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was raped by seven fraternity members in 2024. Attorney General James was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to look into the allegations.

However, the investigation has faced scrutiny following social media posts by James expressing sympathy for the accuser prior to her appointment. Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have called for James' recusal, citing potential bias. James' office released a statement on Saturday asserting that the AG had been seeking outside counsel before any suggestions of recusal were made, though she has not publicly addressed the controversy directly.