Donald Trump said Friday that he “feels badly” for the seven men at Cornell University accused of raping a fellow student in 2024 and feared they won’t be treated fairly by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) who was appointed as a special prosecutor.

“Well Letitia James is a corrupt person, she’s totally corrupt,” Trump told reporters when asked about James’ appointment. “And I can’t imagine, and I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at cause they won’t get a fair shake.”

Trump and James have a long-running public feud going back to the New York attorney general bringing a civil fraud lawsuit against him in 2022, alleging he fraudulently inflated and deflated the value of assets to get more favorable loan terms.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has tried to weaponize his Justice Department to criminally prosecute James for alleged bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against James in October 2025, but the charges were ultimately dismissed.

Trump’s comments came after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) appointed James to investigate the alleged gang-rape at Cornell University. Hochul said James would oversee the investigation and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury.

“I stand ready to lead a process guided by the facts and the law. In the coming months, my office will dutifully carry out the responsibilities the governor has conferred upon us in this executive order. We will review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions,” James said at a Friday press conference.