Former Diddy Prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly To Lead Cornell Assault Probe

Jacqueline Kelly, the former federal prosecutor who helped oversee the sex-crimes case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, has been tapped to lead New York’s reopened criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations at Cornell University.

New York Attorney General Letitia James named Kelly as outside counsel for the probe. Kelly, a Cornell alumna and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, will work with lawyers and investigators from her firm and the attorney general’s office to collect evidence, interview witnesses, review prior records and analyze the law.

Kelly will report to James, whom Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed special prosecutor on October 1 after saying she had lost confidence in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. Van Houten declined to bring charges in 2024 before reopening the matter after a former student filed a civil lawsuit in September.

“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 said in a statement reported by The Associated Press.

The former student, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, alleges that several men raped her at a fraternity party in October 2024 after she was pressured to use ketamine and marijuana and drank alcohol that left her too intoxicated to consent. She later reported the incident to campus police and Cornell’s Title IX office. The allegations have not resulted in criminal charges, and the reopened investigation is expected to take months.

Two men named as defendants in the civil lawsuit have asked to remove James from the criminal probe, arguing that a social media post she made before her appointment showed bias. A judge has not ruled on that request.

James said when she accepted the special-prosecutor assignment that the inquiry would follow the evidence. “Every New Yorker deserves to know that when they report a crime, it will be investigated fully and fairly,” she said in an October statement.

Cornell says its own Title IX process was separate from any criminal review. “Cornell’s process is distinct from the criminal justice system and applies university policies and standards, not criminal law,” the school said in an updated public FAQ. Cornell said its hearings produced sanctions including expulsions and suspensions, while the Chi Phi chapter involved in the allegations was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.

The university has also hired former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of Cornell’s response and later gave survivors the option to choose New York State Police or Cornell Police for criminal investigations. Kelly’s appointment adds a new outside team to the criminal inquiry, but it does not resolve the allegations or determine whether charges will be filed.