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New York Attorney General Letitia James has appointed the former federal prosecutor who oversaw the prosecution of Sean “Diddy” Combs to lead a criminal investigation into allegations that a woman was sexually assaulted at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024.
James announced Nov. 4 that Jacqueline Kelly will serve as outside counsel for the investigation, leading a team of attorneys and staff from the attorney general's office and Boies Schiller Flexner. Kelly was the first
chief of the civil rights unit in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and is now a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner.
"Jacqueline Kelly is a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial," James, who was elected to a third term as attorney general on Nov. 3, said in a statement. "With her criminal legal expertise, commitment to public service, and judicial experience, I am confident that she will lead a fair and comprehensive investigation."
The appointment follows an executive order signed Oct. 1 by Gov. Kathy Hochul designating James as special prosecutor to reopen the criminal investigation into the allegations. Meanwhile, a committee of Cornell's board of trustees has appointed former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to review the university's response to sexual assault claims.
The case gained renewed attention in September when the woman at the center of the allegations filed a lawsuit against Cornell, accusing the school of mishandling its response to her complaint. The woman, identified in court filings as Jane Doe, alleges that she was drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the school’s Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.
Attorneys for the fraternity members named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations. While Cornell expelled or disciplined several students connected to the incident, no criminal charges have been filed.
Who is Jacqueline Kelly?
Kelly joined Boies Schiller Flexner as a partner in 2025 after serving as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan. As the first chief of the civil rights unit in the criminal division, she oversaw investigations involving official misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, hate crimes and voting rights violations.
Before working as a federal prosecutor, Kelly clerked for U.S. District Judges Ronnie Abrams in New York and Kevin McNulty in New Jersey. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Law School.
More recently, Kelly oversaw the criminal case against rapper and music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was accused of sex trafficking. Combs is serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted on prostitution charges, but acquitted of the more serious sex trafficking charges he faced that could have landed him in prison for life.
Kelly said she would work with the New York Attorney General’s Office to conduct a fair and comprehensive investigation.
"I thank Attorney General James for entrusting me to lead this investigation with her office," Kelly said in a statement. "All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case. I look forward to lending my years of experience as a federal prosecutor to the Office of the Attorney General as we examine all available evidence."
According to the attorney general’s office, Kelly’s team will gather and analyze evidence, review prior investigative records and reports, and conduct witness interviews. The team will report directly to the attorney general’s office.
Cornell University faces criticism over response
The allegations have drawn renewed attention to sexual assault cases involving college fraternities and questions about how universities respond to reports of sexual violence. At Cornell, the lawsuit has prompted criticism of the school's handling of the case and calls from students, alumni, and advocates for greater transparency.
Cornell's Faculty Senate is currently moving forward with a vote of no confidence against the university administration. About 135 members of the governing body can vote on the non-binding resolution from Oct. 30 until Nov. 6, according to the student newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun.
"The Faculty Senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University," the resolution states.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff called the faculty discussion and debate "an important component of Cornell’s shared governance" and said the university had taken measures including adding staff to its civil rights office, expanding sexual assault prevention education, and hiring staff focused on victim advocacy.
"We remain committed to listening, learning, and partnering with the Cornell community to create real cultural change and build a safer Cornell," Kotlikoff said in a statement.
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NY AG taps former 'Diddy' prosecutor to lead Cornell sexual assault probe
