NY AG James Faces Bar Ethics Complaint Over Cornell 7 Case

New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing a formal bar ethics complaint for allegedly violating professional conduct rules in the Cornell 7 sexual assault case. The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) filed the complaint with New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee on October 9.

The complaint alleges James engaged in a 'flagrant, obvious and therefore shocking' violation of ethics rules by publicly expressing support for the accuser before any official investigation had begun. This occurred just days before Governor Kathy Hochul appointed her as special prosecutor.

Legal ethicist Jack Marshall, whose expert report accompanies the complaint, stated James has a 'serious and incurable conflict of interest' and is 'ethically and legally obligated to recuse' herself from the case. He warned her comments could suggest a 'rigged, pre-determined and illicit investigation.'

Two of the accused former Cornell Chi Phi members, Gillio Lopes and Winston Lee, have filed motions seeking to disqualify James. Their lawyers argue her public statements show she has already decided the defendants are guilty and that Hochul and James created a 'blatant appearance of impropriety.' A hearing is scheduled for October 29.

James has dismissed the ethics concerns as 'mere empathy,' insisting her office follows only the facts and law. A spokesperson for her office told the New York Post the office is committed to a review of 'nothing but the facts, the evidence and the law.'