Accused Cornell student to make case for removing special prosecutor Letitia James from sex assault investigation

Key Points:

• Cornell student Gillio Lopes, accused of sexual assault at a fraternity party, is seeking to disqualify New York Attorney General Letitia James from overseeing the criminal investigation, alleging bias due to James' public statements supporting the alleged victim.
• Attorney General James expressed sympathy for the alleged victim on social media before being appointed special prosecutor by Governor Kathy Hochul, who lost confidence in the local district attorney's handling of the case.
• Lopes' lawyer argues James' comments show a presumption of guilt and requests that a judge void Hochul’s executive order appointing James, while the attorney general's team contends the statement was empathetic and does not indicate prejudice.
• The legal challenge will be heard by a New York State judge, with another similar motion pending in Tompkins County; meanwhile, Cornell’s Faculty Senate is considering a no-confidence vote regarding the university’s handling of sexual assault cases.
• Lopes denies the allegations, stating his encounter with the accuser was consensual and that he was not involved in facilitating any assault; he was suspended for one academic year following a Title IX investigation and remains enrolled at Cornell.