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Defense lawyers seek to boot AG Letitia James from Cornell rape probe over 'We stand with you' post

From the Newshound archive · first published 11 October 2026.

Defense lawyers seek to boot AG Letitia James from Cornell rape probe over 'We stand with you' post

Lawyers for two of the seven Cornell fraternity brothers accused of gang-raping a fellow student have filed a formal court motion demanding New York Attorney General Letitia James be removed as special prosecutor, arguing her public declaration of support for the accuser — posted before she was appointed to the case — poisoned any prospect of a fair grand jury. Attorney Teny Geragos filed the motion in Tompkins County court on Thursday, citing James's 28 September social media post calling Jane Doe's ordeal "horrific and unacceptable" and pledging "we stand with you." Governor Kathy Hochul appointed James's office as special prosecutor just three days later.

Attorney Andrew Miltenberg said the post amounts to James accepting Jane Doe is a "survivor" before examining "a shred of evidence."

Representative Nancy Mace, a self-described rape survivor, inflamed the row by posting that "a consensual gangbang is not a rape," drawing furious backlash and then partially walking back the remark.

MoreFox NewsSally Yates' Cornell review of alleged gang rape could scrutinize crucial police interview, attorney saysThe GuardianThe Jane Doe in the Cornell seven case is getting threatsThe IndependentRepublican sexual assault survivor blames Jane Doe in ‘Cornell 7’ case: ‘Not a rape’NY Post‘Cornell 7’ rape accuser detailed self-harm struggle weeks before frat house attack: reportNY Post‘Cornell 7’ frat bro who said he was ‘sodomized’ trashed US, is son of Dubai-based Islamic studies profFox News USLetitia James faces new push to boot her from Cornell rape probe over alleged bias: court docsFox NewsAttorney for former Cornell fraternity member wants AG James off case over post supporting accuserFox NewsWho is Sally Yates? Cornell rape-review pick was fired by Trump after refusing to defend travel ban
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