Former Diddy Prosecutor Named to Lead Cornell Assault Investigation

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Nov. 4, 2026 appointed Jacqueline Kelly to lead the criminal investigation into a former Cornell student's claim she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Chi Phi fraternity members on Oct. 19-20, 2024. Kelly, a Cornell graduate and Boies Schiller Flexner partner who was first Civil Rights Unit chief in the SDNY Criminal Division, will oversee lawyers and investigators from her firm and the attorney general's office and report to James. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Oct. 1, 2026 named the AG special prosecutor after Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten declined charges after reviewing Jane Doe's six-page statement. Doe sued seven members in September 2026 and had reported to campus police and Title IX in November 2024. Kelly oversaw the 2025 Sean Combs case, which produced a prostitution-transportation conviction and 50-month sentence and acquittals on sex trafficking and racketeering. James called Kelly a seasoned prosecutor and said she is confident Kelly will lead a fair investigation. Kelly said all New Yorkers deserve a fair inquiry into the facts. Two defendants seek James's disqualification over a prior social media post; a judge has not ruled. James said the office is guided only by the facts, evidence, and the law.