Cornell defendant fighting Letitia James appointment as special prosecutor

Gillio Lopes, one of seven men named in Jane Doe’s Cornell University gang rape lawsuit, is challenging New York Attorney General Letitia James’s appointment as a special prosecutor. Lopes argues that James’s Facebook comments supporting his anonymous accuser disqualify her from leading the case. In the post, James wrote, “We stand with you,” and said she was holding the accuser “in my heart and in my prayers,” published three days before Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed James to the matter. Lopes’s petition, filed Wednesday, claims James has shown “bias and presumption of guilt.” Stuart Bernstein, representing Lopes, said the public needs confidence in a fair investigation. Hochul said she has confidence in James. The Hill sought comment from James’s office.