NEW YORK — New York State Attorney General Letitia James says her office is recusing itself from the investigation into the beating that allegedly resulted in the death of Robert Brooks, an inmate at an upstate New York prison .
The attorney general typically investigates the deaths of people in the custody of law enforcement, but James cited a potential conflict of interest, saying four of the officers under investigation were already being represented by lawyers in her office. Some of the guards have previously been defendants in brutality lawsuits filed by other prisoners.
“Even the possibility or mere appearance of a conflict could tie up a potential prosecution in lengthy legal challenges or get a potential prosecution outright dismissed,” James said in a video message. “And I will not allow justice to be delayed or denied because of a conflict.”
James, a Democrat, chose the Republican district attorney in Onondaga County, William Fitzpatrick, to investigate the Dec. 10 death of Robert Brooks. Fitzpatrick has been the top prosecutor in the Syracuse area since 1992. His office released a statement saying he would not comment “until the grand jury has taken action.”