President Donald Trump on Friday sharply criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James’s new role as special prosecutor in the Cornell University rape case, asserting that she cannot conduct a fair investigation. Trump’s remarks came just hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) assigned James to take over the probe, which stems from an alleged 2025 gang rape at a campus fraternity.
Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn before departing for Alabama, Trump called James “a corrupt person” and said, “I feel bad for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake.” The president and James have a well-documented history of legal and political clashes, including her successful civil fraud lawsuit against the Trump Organization and her challenges to his administration’s policies.
Hochul said she lacked confidence in the local district attorney’s handling of the case and issued an executive order granting James special prosecutor authority. “I stand ready to lead a process guided by the facts and the law,” James said at a Friday press conference with Hochul. “In the coming months, my office will dutifully carry out the responsibilities the governor has conferred upon us in this executive order. We will review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions.”
The case centers on a woman who was a Cornell sophomore when she says she was gang-raped at a fraternity in 2025. She has filed a lawsuit against the university, the fraternity, her own sorority, and seven men she alleges participated in the assault. A local district attorney declined to press charges after reviewing the matter. According to The New York Times, some of the men named in the lawsuit admitted to sexual contact but claimed it was consensual.
James’s appointment has drawn national attention amid heightened scrutiny of campus sexual assault. Recent surveys have shown alarming rates of assault at Cornell, with 35% of female undergrads reporting sexual assault. The investigation also comes as Hochul has withheld judgment on Cornell leaders while James assumes control of the probe.
Trump’s intervention underscores the politically charged nature of the case. His comments are the latest in a series of public battles with James, who has been a frequent legal thorn in his side. The president’s allies argue that James’s past investigations of Trump create a conflict of interest, while Democrats counter that the criticism is an attempt to undermine an independent inquiry.
Legal experts note that special prosecutors are typically appointed to avoid local conflicts or perceived biases. Hochul’s decision to tap James suggests she believes the local DA mishandled the case. The governor has not commented directly on Trump’s remarks.
James’s office has pledged a thorough review. “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads,” a spokesperson said. The investigation could take months and may result in criminal charges if sufficient evidence is found.
As the probe unfolds, it is likely to remain a flashpoint in the broader debate over campus safety, prosecutorial discretion, and the intersection of politics and justice. Trump’s criticism may rally his base but could also complicate the case’s public perception. For now, James says she is focused on the facts.
