Cornell probe to be run by ex-Diddy prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly

Jacqueline Kelly will direct the new criminal investigation into alleged gang rapes at Cornell University.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday that Kelly, a Cornell alumna and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, will serve as outside counsel for the state. James appointed this team after Gov. Kathy Hochul named her a special prosecutor on October 1, citing a loss of faith in the local district attorney. The announcement came one day after James won re-election to a third term.

The probe stems from a lawsuit filed in September by a former student. She alleged that several men raped her at a fraternity party in October 2024. According to court papers, the men pressured her to use ketamine and marijuana and gave her alcohol that left her too intoxicated to consent. The student reported the incident to campus police and the university’s Title IX office a few weeks later. The case has drawn attention to how the university and local law enforcement handle sexual assaults on campus.

James stated that Kelly and a team of lawyers and investigators will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review investigative records. They will report directly to the Attorney General. James described Kelly as a seasoned prosecutor who oversaw cases from investigation through trial. James said she is confident Kelly will lead a fair and comprehensive investigation. Kelly added that all New Yorkers deserve a fair inquiry and that she looks forward to lending her federal experience to the Office of the Attorney General.

Kelly served in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office for nearly a decade, where she led the civil rights unit. She handled cases involving civil rights offenses, voting rights violations, sex crimes, and hate crimes. Her recent work included the prosecutions of Sean Combs and Peter Nygård. She also supervised the cases of Ricardo Cruciani and Jesus Concepcion. Since leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office last year, Kelly has focused on regulatory and criminal investigations at Boies Schiller Flexner, a firm that has represented victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

Two men named in the lawsuit are challenging James’s role in the investigation. They argue she is biased because she posted support for the accuser on social media before her appointment. A judge has not yet ruled on their request. Meanwhile, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who initially declined to bring charges in 2024, said he would restart his investigation. A lawyer for the accuser indicated that Van Houten is preparing to send the matter to a grand jury within two weeks.

James has stated her investigation will take months. Cornell hired former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates last month to review the school’s handling of sexual assault and harassment. Yates will examine the disciplinary process and campus police response. James’s office previously used outside counsel for a non-criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo in 2021, which led to his resignation.