Letitia James avoids questions on Cornell 7 investigation while campaigning

New York Attorney General Letitia James declined on Sunday to address questions regarding the Cornell 7 rape case during a campaign event in Crown Heights. The New York Post reported that James repeatedly directed questions toward early elections, while adding that the Cornell situation is very serious and that her office will have something to say about it. [1]

James avoided confirming whether she is being forced to step aside or hire outside representation. The New York Post reported that she refused to state directly whether she would recuse herself from the ongoing case. [1]

Earlier reporting showed mounting legal developments surrounding her role in the case. NewsOne reported that James filed to dismiss a motion seeking to bar her from the investigation, while TMZ and AOL.com both reported that she was fighting to remain on the case. TheGrio reported that James is bringing in outside counsel nine days before her reelection vote. As FTMQ News reported earlier, James planned to hire outside counsel for the probe following demands for her recusal after defense lawyers filed motions to remove her. [2][3][4][5][9]

James has served as the 67th attorney general of New York since 2019 after winning election in 2018. She is the first Black person to hold the office of New York attorney general and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in the state. [6]