Defendant in Cornell Fraternity Case Calls for Ag's Recusal

WHO:

Fox News - Teny Geragos, attorney for Winston Lee, filed a motion on October 8, 2026, seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James from the case.

Fox News - Teny Geragos filed a motion on behalf of Winston Lee on October 8, 2026, seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James from the case.

Fox News - Sally Yates, former Deputy Attorney General, has been appointed by Cornell's trustees to conduct an independent review of the allegations involving the Chi Phi fraternity.

Fox News - Teny Geragos is representing a second defendant in the case, who is also seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

ABC News - A second defendant in the case, in addition to Winston Lee, is seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

NBC News - Winston Lee, a former fraternity member at Cornell University, is one of the defendants in a sexual assault lawsuit.

TMZ - Teny Geragos is the attorney representing Winston Lee.

NBC News - New York Attorney General Letitia James is involved as a special prosecutor in the case.

WHAT:

Fox News - Geragos argues that James' social media post on September 28, 2026, which expressed support for the accuser, demonstrates that she prejudged the case before reviewing evidence.

Fox News - The motion filed by Geragos claims that James' public statements have "prejudiced grand jurors."

Fox News - A bar ethics complaint has been filed against New York Attorney General Letitia James for allegedly making prejudicial statements about the "Cornell 7" in the days before being appointed special prosecutor.

Fox News - A key police interview that local prosecutors say they never received in full before initially declining to bring charges in the Cornell University alleged rape case could face fresh scrutiny as Sally Yates reviews the handling of the allegations.

Fox News - The woman, identified in court papers by the pseudonym Jane Doe, told Cornell University Police during a November 2024 interview, "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped," according to a transcript obtained by CBS News.

Fox News - Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that his office reviewed a six-page sworn statement that described Doe's participation in the sexual activity and drug use as voluntary and consensual.

Fox News - Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff stated that two of the seven accused students were expelled, two were suspended for at least two semesters, one had graduated before discipline could be imposed, and two were found not responsible for sexual misconduct.

Fox News - Yates' investigation will also assess Cornell's practices against federal and state laws and examine whether the university followed its own procedures in responding to the Chi Phi allegations.

Fox News - Yates' review will examine how Cornell handles sexual misconduct allegations across campus, including oversight of fraternities and sororities.

Fox News - The review will assess Cornell's practices against federal and state laws and whether the university followed its own procedures in responding to the allegations.

Fox News - The motion filed by Geragos claims that Letitia James made a social media post supporting the accuser, which the defense argues creates a conflict of interest.

NBC News - A motion was filed on a Friday in criminal court by attorneys representing Winston Lee, seeking to disqualify New York Attorney General Letitia James from any future grand jury proceedings.

ABC News - The second defendant is also asking a judge to remove Letitia James from the case, indicating that there are multiple defendants involved in the lawsuit.

NO_NEW_FACTS

NBC News - Attorneys for Winston Lee filed a motion in criminal court seeking to disqualify Letitia James from future grand jury proceedings.

TMZ - The motion filed by Geragos aims to remove Letitia James from the Cornell investigation.

WHERE:

NBC News - The case is associated with Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York.

WHY:

Fox News - Geragos contends that the public cannot have confidence in the investigation or charging decisions of someone who has clearly prejudged the guilt of the individuals involved.

Fox News - Geragos argues that James' social media post on September 28, 2026, which expressed support for the accuser, demonstrates that she prejudged the case before reviewing evidence.

Fox News - Yates was brought in after the case erupted into a national firestorm following Doe's Sept. 16 lawsuit, which laid out graphic allegations that seven Chi Phi fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her during a night involving alcohol, drugs, and group sex at their fraternity house in October 2024.

Fox News - The review was initiated after the case gained national attention following Jane Doe's lawsuit, which included graphic allegations against seven fraternity members.

Fox News - Geragos argues that the social media post by Letitia James undermines her impartiality as a special prosecutor in the case.

TMZ - Geragos is calling for Letitia James's recusal, suggesting a conflict of interest in her role as special prosecutor.

HOW:

Fox News - Geragos' motion cites a social media post made by James on September 28, 2026, where she stated, "What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers."

Fox News - Yates and her team will have access to relevant records, case files, university personnel, and leadership as they review the school's response under its original Title IX investigation.

Fox News - Yates and her team will have access to relevant records, case files, and university personnel as part of the review process.

NBC News - The legal action taken by Lee's attorneys involves filing a motion in criminal court.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 19:00 UTC)

Teny Geragos, the attorney for Winston Lee, has filed a motion seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James from the case, arguing that her social media post from September 28, 2026, shows she prejudged the situation before reviewing any evidence. In the motion, Geragos claims that James' public statements have biased grand jurors and undermined public confidence in the investigation. He specifically cites James' post, where she expressed support for the accuser, stating, "What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers."

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 17:57 UTC)

Winston Lee's attorney, Teny Geragos, has filed a motion seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James from the case, citing a bar ethics complaint against her. The complaint alleges that James made prejudicial statements about the "Cornell 7" prior to her appointment as special prosecutor. Geragos argues that a social media post from September 28, 2026, where James expressed support for the accuser, shows she prejudged the case without reviewing the evidence.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 17:00 UTC)

A key police interview in the Cornell University alleged rape case is set to undergo fresh scrutiny as Sally Yates reviews how the allegations were handled, following a lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who stated unequivocally that she was raped during a November 2024 interview. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten noted that his office had previously reviewed a sworn statement indicating that Doe's involvement in the events was described as voluntary and consensual, while Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff revealed that disciplinary actions were taken against some of the accused students. Yates will assess the university's practices against federal and state laws and ensure that it adhered to its own procedures during the original Title IX investigation.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 11:56 UTC)

Sally Yates has been appointed by Cornell's trustees to conduct an independent review of the allegations involving the Chi Phi fraternity, which will also examine how the university handles sexual misconduct allegations across campus. This review comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe, which included serious allegations against seven fraternity members, and will assess Cornell's practices against federal and state laws, as well as its own procedures. Yates and her team will have access to relevant records, case files, and university personnel as they carry out this important review.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 11:09 UTC)

Teny Geragos is now representing a second defendant in a case that seeks the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James. The motion filed by Geragos claims that James made a social media post supporting the accuser, which the defense argues creates a conflict of interest. Geragos contends that this post undermines her impartiality as a special prosecutor in the case.

(UPDATED October 10, 2026 01:29 UTC)

A motion was filed in criminal court by attorneys representing Winston Lee, aiming to disqualify New York Attorney General Letitia James from any future grand jury proceedings. This legal action was reported by NBC News. The motion was submitted at 22:01 UTC on a Friday.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 23:59 UTC)

A second defendant, alongside Winston Lee, is seeking the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James from a lawsuit. This request to a judge highlights that there are multiple defendants involved in the case. The developments come as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 22:01 UTC)

Winston Lee, a defendant in a sexual assault lawsuit connected to Cornell University, has had his attorneys file a motion in criminal court seeking to disqualify New York Attorney General Letitia James from future grand jury proceedings. Teny Geragos, who is representing Lee, argues that there is a conflict of interest in James's role as special prosecutor in this case. The motion aims to remove her from the ongoing investigation into the allegations stemming from the university in Ithaca, New York.