Former prosecutor appointed to lead Cornell sexual assault investigation

Kelly, who previously served as chief of the civil rights unit for the US attorney’s office in the southern district of New York, will act as outside counsel and report directly to James’s office. Her appointment was announced on Wednesday.

“The Office of the Attorney General is committed to a thorough investigation guided only by the facts, the evidence, and the law,” James stated. She highlighted Kelly’s extensive experience, noting, “Jacqueline Kelly is a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial.”

Kelly echoed James’s commitment, saying, “I thank Attorney General James for entrusting me to lead this investigation with her office. All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case.”

Kelly’s prior work includes investigations involving Sean “Diddy” Combs, Peter Nygard, and Dr Ricardo Cruciani, who faced charges related to sex trafficking and sexual abuse.

The decision to appoint Kelly follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s earlier designation of James as special prosecutor in November. Hochul expressed concerns about the Tompkins county district attorney, Matthew Van Houten’s, ability to handle the case, particularly after he declined to pursue charges in 2024.

The case revolves around allegations made by a Cornell student who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members over a seven-hour period in October 2024. The initial handling of the allegations drew significant criticism and public backlash.

Legal representation for one of the accused individuals has filed a motion to remove James from her role, citing a potential bias stemming from a social media post she made prior to her appointment. In the post, James expressed support for the alleged victim.

Judge James R Farrell, during a hearing last Thursday in Sullivan county, postponed a decision on the motion, stating that all defendants would need to join the request before a ruling could be made.