Former Federal Prosecutor Leads Cornell Sexual Assault Probe

New York Attorney General Letitia James has appointed former federal prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly to lead a criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations involving seven members of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity in Ithaca, New York. Announced Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the appointment gives Kelly authority to direct the investigation alongside attorneys from the attorney general's office and her law firm.

The investigation concerns allegations made by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe, who filed a lawsuit in September accusing seven fraternity members of drugging and sexually assaulting her during an encounter at the fraternity house on October 19 and 20, 2024. The accused students have denied wrongdoing, according to CNN.

Kelly will lead a team comprising attorneys from the New York Attorney General's Office and Boies Schiller Flexner, where she serves as a partner. She will report to James and oversee the examination of available evidence, according to the Washington Post.

James highlighted Kelly's prosecutorial background and experience handling complex criminal cases when announcing the appointment.

"is a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial." James described Kelly in her statement.

James also expressed confidence in Kelly's ability to conduct the investigation independently.

"With her criminal legal expertise, commitment to public service, and judicial experience, I am confident that she will lead a fair and comprehensive investigation," James added.

Kelly welcomed the appointment and emphasized the importance of examining the evidence thoroughly.

"All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case," Kelly said.

She also explained her commitment to bringing her federal prosecutorial experience to the investigation.

"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," Kelly said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the investigation on October 1, appointing James as a special prosecutor after questioning the handling of the allegations by the Tompkins County district attorney. The local prosecutor had previously reviewed the case without filing criminal charges, according to CNN.

Hochul's decision followed concerns about the original assessment of the allegations. CNN reported that the governor had lost confidence in the local prosecutor's handling of the matter.

The former student initially reported the alleged assault to Cornell University and campus police in November 2024. Records reviewed by NBC News indicate that university police interviewed several witnesses and collected additional evidence.

Kelly brings extensive experience in criminal investigations involving sexual misconduct and organized crime. She became the first chief of the civil rights unit within the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in 2021.

Before leaving the federal office in 2025, Kelly supervised investigations involving Sean Combs, fashion executive Peter Nygard and physician Ricardo Cruciani. Her work included the federal prosecution of Combs, who was convicted in 2025 of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.

Combs is serving a 50-month federal prison sentence. Kelly also worked on the New York indictment of Nygard, who received an 11-year prison sentence in Canada in 2024 for sexual assaults.

Her professional background also includes representing victims' interests through investigations and litigation. Boies Schiller Flexner has represented women who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, according to NBC News and CNN.

Kelly's appointment follows legal challenges from attorneys representing two of the seven accused students. They have asked separate state judges to remove James from the investigation, arguing that her previous public statements demonstrated bias toward the accuser.

On September 28, James expressed support for Jane Doe in a social media post before her appointment as special prosecutor.

"What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I'm holding her in my heart and in my prayers. To her, and to all survivors: you're not alone. We stand with you," James wrote on X.

During a subsequent court hearing, a judge questioned the attorney general's office about James's public comments and her appearance alongside Hochul at an October 2 news conference. A representative for the office maintained that the statements would not interfere with the investigation.

"impediment" was the term the attorney general's office lawyer used to reject the argument that James's earlier statements prevented an impartial investigation, according to CNN.

The judge gave the lawyer until Thursday to obtain support from attorneys representing the other accused students or provide legal arguments explaining why the challenge should not be dismissed on procedural grounds. Both requests to disqualify James remained pending as Kelly assumed responsibility for the investigation.