- New York Attorney General Letitia James was asked about a social media post she made about the “Cornell 7” case at her first news conference after taking over the investigation.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order Thursday night appointing James as a special prosecutor to lead a criminal investigation into the alleged October 2024 gang rape of a 20-year-old female sophomore at Cornell University.
- James wrote in a social media post on Sept. 28: “What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers. To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone. We stand with you.”
- A reporter asked James about the post Friday, saying, “Why did you affirm her allegations as fact without doing your own fact-finding investigation? And to the governor, why did you appoint an official who made a public statement confirming those allegations as fact as someone who is supposed to be doing an investigation?”
- Hochul said in response: “I have every confidence in our attorney general to do what she’s always done, look at the facts, examine the record, and draw the proper conclusions. That’s exactly what is going to happen in this case.” James responded: “I will not comment on a Facebook post.”
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