Smoker says James is following the facts and accuses Komatireddy of playing politics
Grace SmokerCommunications director for James's campaign
Smoker accuses Komatireddy of politicizing the investigation and says James is following facts and law.
“It doesn’t get any lower than that. Attorney General James is focused on following the facts and the law. Our opponent should try to do the same.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Was Kathy Hochul right to appoint Letitia James as special prosecutor in the Cornell case?
Governor Kathy Hochul appoints Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the alleged October 2024 sexual assault at Cornell and pursue prosecution if warranted. Hochul says an independent investigation is needed after questions about the campus police and local district attorney's handling. John Ziegler denounces the appointment, while Benjamin Ryan questions whether James's earlier public statement compromises her impartiality.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Original reporting quotes critics and spokespeople on the search for outside counsel. The office confirms a search and discussions, not a completed appointment.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Responding to Komatireddy's criticism of the outside-counsel search, she first calls it unconscionable that Komatireddy would play politics with a sensitive criminal investigation.
After the quotation
The report then turns to the lawsuit that brought the Cornell case national attention. All of the accused deny wrongdoing.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The matter under scrutiny is James's appointment. Smoker defends James's handling of the investigation and rejects her opponent's claim that James is unqualified to conduct it.
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More from this case
Read the full caseRichards says James's office remains committed to an independent Cornell investigation
“Since then, OAG has spoken with the Tompkins County District Attorney, Jane Doe’s attorney, and several candidates for outside counsel to support the investigation. The DA has agreed to cooperate, and OAG remains committed to a thorough and independent investigation guided only by the facts and the law.”Read statement
Komatireddy says James's search for outside counsel shows she is unqualified
“is not qualified to prosecute this case and not qualified to be the attorney general of this state.”Read statement
Quinn says James should have declined the Cornell assignment
“It’s one mistake after another”Read statement
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- Smoker says James is following the facts and accuses Komatireddy of playing politics
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The Dispute Index. "Smoker says James is following the facts and accuses Komatireddy of playing politics". First published: 2026-10-27. Last updated: 2026-10-27. https://disputeindex.com/events/6928-smoker-accuses-komatireddy-of-politicizing-the-investigation-and