Former Manhattan prosecutor to lead Cornell rape probe
Jacqueline Kelly, a Cornell alumna and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, was named outside counsel for New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday.
By Aaron Foster ·
Nearly a decade of federal prosecution experience will lead the reopened criminal investigation into gang rape allegations at Cornell University. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday that Jacqueline Kelly, a partner at the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, will serve as outside counsel for the state’s probe.
Kelly is a Cornell alumna who previously led the civil rights unit at the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office. She oversaw high-profile cases against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Peter Nygård. The investigation stems from a September lawsuit filed by a former student, identified in court papers as Jane Doe. She alleged that several men raped her at a fraternity party in October 2024.
James was appointed as special prosecutor for the case on Oct. 1 by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul said she lost faith in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who declined to bring charges in 2024. James made the appointment a day after winning election to a third term as attorney general.
Kelly and a team of investigators from her firm and the attorney general’s office will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review records. They will report directly to James. The attorney general stated that Kelly has the expertise to lead a fair and comprehensive inquiry into the facts.
Two men named as defendants in the lawsuit want James removed from the investigation. They argue she is biased because of a social media post she made before her appointment that expressed support for the accuser. A judge has not yet ruled on that motion.
Kelly left the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office last year to join Boies Schiller Flexner. At the firm, she focuses on regulatory and criminal investigations. She will remain at the firm while conducting the Cornell review. The investigation is expected to take months.
The case has prompted a review of how the university handles sexual assault complaints. Last month, Cornell hired former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to examine the school’s disciplinary processes and campus police response. Jane Doe’s lawsuit claims the men pressured her into using ketamine and marijuana and that she was too intoxicated to consent.
