Lawyers for accused man in Cornell case want Letitia James removed as prosecutor

Attorneys for Gillio Lopes, a Cornell University student accused of involvement in a 2024 sexual assault, have filed a legal challenge to remove New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor. The defense argues that James' previous social media comments expressing solidarity with the accuser demonstrate a bias and a 'presumption of guilt.' Governor Kathy Hochul appointed James to the case following public outcry and dissatisfaction with the initial handling of the investigation by local authorities. The defense further claims the accuser's narrative has shifted over time, while the accuser's attorney maintains she was incapacitated and unable to consent.

Attorneys for Gillio Lopes, a Cornell University student accused of involvement in a 2024 sexual assault, have filed a legal challenge to remove New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor. The defense argues that James' previous social media comments expressing solidarity with the accuser demonstrate a bias and a 'presumption of guilt.' Governor Kathy Hochul appointed James to the case following public outcry and dissatisfaction with the initial handling of the investigation by local authorities. The defense further claims the accuser's narrative has shifted over time, while the accuser's attorney maintains she was incapacitated and unable to consent.