Lawyer for one of Cornell 7 calls for special prosecutor to be removed over previous comments

A lawyer for one of the seven men accused of participating in a Cornell University gang rape has called for the special prosecutor on the case to recuse herself over past public comments.

The lawyer had said a social media post from New York Attorney General Letitia James throws into question her investigation's "integrity and independence".

In the 28 September post, James wrote that "what this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable" and told survivors that "we stand with you".

The university's administration is under fire over its alleged mishandling of the October 2024 incident and, according to US media, now faces a no-confidence vote by Cornell faculty.

The university's Faculty Senate, a governing body comprised of professors and other academic staff, will vote on a resolution of no confidence next week, according to reports. Cornell is an Ivy League university, alongside Harvard and Yale, and its faculty includes Nobel laureates and other distinguished researchers.

A majority no-confidence vote would be a largely symbolic gesture, signalling the broader faculty's discontent and applying pressure on university leadership to act.

The BBC has reached out to Cornell University for comment.

Allegations made in a lawsuit against seven men and the university have rocked the campus in New York state, with hundreds of students and faculty members gathering there on Monday in protest, and sparked anger across the country.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul last week appointed James as a special prosecutor to investigate the case and how law enforcement and the university initially responded to the allegations made by a woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe.

Jane Doe has accused the university of failing to protect her, after she was allegedly drugged and raped by the men for several hours at a fraternity party.

Days before she was appointed special prosecutor, James wrote on X: "What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable.

"I'm holding her in my heart and in my prayers," she continued. "To her, and to all survivors: you're not alone. We stand with you."

The lawyer for one of the seven accused said these remarks were disqualifying.

In a statement sent to the BBC's US media partner, CBS News, the lawyer said her comments conflict with the need for "independently evaluating the evidence".

"This is not an accusation that Attorney General James is corrupt, acting in bad faith or incapable of performing her duties professionally," the statement said.

"Nor am I suggesting that a court has determined that she is legally disqualified. The point is much narrower: an avoidable question now hangs over this investigation, and voluntary recusal would remove it."

Governor Hochul and James were questioned about impartiality concerns during a news conference, and Hochul said James would "follow the facts".

"She'll examine the evidence and go wherever it leads, and if the evidence supports charges, she will pursue them," Hochul said.

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https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/w1730c6l9tkx6gh