NY AG recuses office from Robert Brooks case

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Attorney General Letitia James announced she is recusing her office from the Robert Brooks Case.

"We believe this is the best course of action to protect the integrity of the investigation," James explained in a video.

According to the Attorney General, the decision to step back is because her office is currently representing four of the accused corrections officers in other legal matters.

James said papers have been filed to appoint Onondaga County District Attorney, William Fitzpatrick, as special prosecutor.

Governor Hochul released a statement which said in-part, “I believe initial charges can be brought even as more serious charges are considered based on further investigation. While it is outside the power of my office to order arrests or bring charges, my team has offered any necessary resources to help prosecutors move as quickly as possible to ensure that justice is served.”

This comes nearly a week after the New York Attorney General’s Office released body-cam video showing corrections officers beating Brooks and others standing by and watching.

Brooks was pronounced dead at a hospital on December 10. Multiple Investigations are underway, including one from the FBI. 

Thursday Morning before the AG’s office recused itself from the case, Inspector General Lucy Lang, explained her office’s role. She said integrity trainings for corrections officers will continue as well as visits and spot checks at the state’s correctional facilities. 

"We will continue to work with formerly incarcerated and incarcerated New Yorkers and their families to identify areas of concern and we will continue to monitor many of the areas that we have been monitoring including the very concerning disparities in the administration of disciplinary tickets based on race, including in the need to increase compliance with the HALT legislation which was designed to curtail the use of solitary confinement, and a wide ranging set of other issues," said Lang.

On Monday, Governor Hochul named a new superintendent for Marcy Correctional Facility and expedited $400 million dollars for more cameras in all DOCCS facilities.

To date, thirteen people have been suspended without pay and one has resigned.