Former Federal Prosecutor to Lead Cornell Assault Investigation

Jacqueline Kelly, a Cornell graduate and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, will lead New York’s criminal investigation into allegations that seven male students sexually assaulted a former student at a Chi Phi fraternity party in 2024. The students have denied wrongdoing. The former student, whom legal filings call Jane Doe, has also sued over the allegations.

Independent Prosecutor Takes Lead in Cornell Assault Probe

A former federal prosecutor with experience handling sex-crime investigations will lead New York’s reopened inquiry into allegations that seven Cornell students sexually assaulted a former student at a fraternity party in 2024. The accused students deny wrongdoing, and the appointment puts an experienced outside lawyer at the center of a case that has drawn scrutiny over how campus assault allegations are handled.

Jacqueline Kelly, a Cornell graduate and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, will work with investigators and lawyers from her firm and the attorney general’s office. The team is to gather evidence, interview witnesses and review investigative records before assessing the facts and law. Attorney General Letitia James said Kelly would lead a fair and comprehensive investigation.

Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed James as special prosecutor after saying she had lost faith in Tompkins County prosecutor Matthew Van Houten, and he declined to bring charges in 2024. Van Houten said he would restart the inquiry after Jane Doe filed a lawsuit, while her lawyer said the district attorney was preparing to take the matter to a grand jury.

Two of the accused students are seeking to remove James, arguing that a social media message expressing support for Doe shows bias. A judge has not ruled. The dispute underscores why the investigation’s fairness and independence will matter as it proceeds; James’s office says the bias claims lack merit and that she will follow the evidence and law.

James’ Cornell Probe Faces Bias Challenge as Outside Counsel Takes Over

New York Attorney General Letitia James has put an outside lawyer in charge of the reopened criminal investigation into allegations involving Cornell students, but questions about James’s own role remain before a judge. Two of the accused students are seeking to have her removed, arguing that a social media post supporting the accuser shows bias.

The appointment announced November 4 makes Jacqueline Kelly, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor and Cornell graduate, the investigation’s lead counsel. Kelly will remain a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner while working with a team from the firm and the attorney general’s office to gather evidence, interview witnesses and review records. James has said the investigation will take months.

The allegations concern a 2024 fraternity party where Jane Doe says seven male students sexually assaulted her. The students have denied wrongdoing. James was appointed special prosecutor by Gov. Kathy Hochul after the governor said she had lost faith in Tompkins County prosecutor Matthew Van Houten, and he declined to file charges in 2024.

The challenge to James’s appointment follows her public message expressing support for Doe and her appearance alongside Hochul as the governor voiced support for the accuser. The attorney general’s office says the bias claims are without merit and that James will follow the facts and law. A judge has yet to rule on the students’ effort to remove her, leaving that challenge alongside the investigation Kelly will lead.