President Donald Trump criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James regarding her role as special prosecutor for the reopened case involving gang rape allegations at Cornell University. Trump stated, "Letitia James is a corrupt person," during a press conference on the South Lawn, expressing concern that individuals involved in the case would not receive fair treatment under her oversight.
Trump's criticism is linked to James's previous civil fraud investigations into his business activities, which included a $454 million case that was dismissed by a New York appeals court in 2026.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced James's appointment on Thursday, following renewed attention on the allegations that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity raped a student identified as Jane Doe in 2024. Hochul expressed a lack of confidence in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten's ability to manage the case and appointed James to investigate and potentially prosecute any offenses arising from the investigation.
Hochul stated, "As special prosecutor, the Attorney General will investigate this incident and, if warranted, prosecute any offenses arising from that investigation and present evidence to a grand jury." She also expressed concern about how Cornell University's police handled the situation.
In the initial investigation, only two fraternity members were expelled, while others faced minimal disciplinary actions. None of the seven members faced legal consequences. Doe has filed a lawsuit against the seven fraternity members, Cornell University, the national and local chapters of the Chi Phi fraternity, the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and a bar in Ithaca, New York.
Trump's remarks were made as he campaigns for the Republican Party in Alabama, increasing his efforts as the midterm elections approach.