Cornell Case Carries Far-Reaching Implications for Hochul and James
New York Times · LC · trust 49/100
The decision to intercede by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York attorney general, Letitia James, has raised questions of impartiality as both face re-election.
Listen · 7:32 min Share full article The Cornell case cast a shadow on a campaign appearance on Saturday in the Bronx by Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, and Letitia James, the New York attorney general. Hilary Swift for The New York Times By Benjamin Oreskes
Ms. James eventually reconsidered, and Ms. Hochul went on in 2022 to capture her first full term as governor of New York.
Roughly five years later, the two women find themselves locked arm in arm, both running for re-election as the closest of allies on a range of issues.
The latest evidence of this partnership came on Thursday, when Ms. Hochul named Ms. James special prosecutor to investigate a woman’s allegation that she had been raped inside a fraternity house at Cornell University in October 2024.
The governor’s decision to intercede in the matter by enlisting Ms. James as a special prosecutor may carry implications for the investigation and beyond.
For Ms. Hochul, appearing as a take-charge governor may help her counter accusations from her Republican rival, Bruce Blakeman, that she has been weak on crime. It also allows her to tell voters that she stands up for the state’s most vulnerable, whether they are immigrants or victims of sexual assault.
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