Just two months after Gov. Kathy Hochul assumed office, Letitia James, the New York attorney general, declared she would challenge the governor in the Democratic primary. Ms. James eventually reconsidered, and Ms. Hochul went on in 2022 to capture her first full term. Roughly five years later, the two women are locked arm in arm, running for re-election as close allies.
The latest evidence came on Thursday, when Ms. Hochul named Ms. James special prosecutor to investigate a woman’s allegation of rape inside a fraternity house at Cornell University in October 2024. For Ms. Hochul, appearing as a take-charge governor may help counter accusations from her Republican rival, Bruce Blakeman, that she is weak on crime. It also lets her tell voters she stands up for the vulnerable.
Ms. James faces fewer immediate political implications, being all but assured re-election. But her involvement adds complexity, as her stance as a legal bulwark to President Trump has raised impartiality questions. Tompkins County district attorney Matthew Van Houten said he would revisit the accusations. Mr. Trump called Ms. James a “corrupt person,” and former Republican congressman John Faso said she is a politician, not a prosecutor.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing