World · North America · 6 hrs ago
Jacqueline Kelly to lead reopened Cornell sexual assault investigation
Jacqueline Kelly will lead a reopened criminal investigation into a former Cornell University student’s allegations that several men raped her at a fraternity party in October 2024.
The former student, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, says she was drugged and too intoxicated to consent; the men named in the case have denied wrongdoing.
New York Attorney General Letitia James appointed Kelly as outside counsel, and Kelly’s team will gather evidence, interview witnesses and review earlier investigative records.
The case was reopened after a civil lawsuit, following a local prosecutor’s decision not to bring charges in 2024.
Some defendants have asked a judge to remove James, arguing that a social media post expressing support for the accuser showed bias; the judge has not ruled.
Kelly’s team will report to James, and James has said the investigation will take months.
Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor and Cornell alumna, will lead New York’s reopened criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations involving a former student.
New York Attorney General Letitia James appointed Kelly as outside counsel on Wednesday.
The investigation follows the student’s September lawsuit alleging that several men raped her at a fraternity party in October 2024.
Kelly and a team from her law firm and the attorney general’s office will gather evidence, interview witnesses and review investigative records.
Lawyers for accused men have asked a judge to remove James from the investigation, arguing that a social media post showed bias; the judge has not ruled.
- Who
- Jacqueline Kelly will lead the investigation as outside counsel for Attorney General Letitia James.
- What
- New York has reopened a criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations by a former Cornell student.
- When
- Kelly’s appointment was announced on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The allegations concern an incident in October 2024.
- Where
- Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
- Why
- The investigation follows a former student’s September lawsuit alleging that several men raped her at a fraternity party.
Accused men seeking James’s removal
Letitia James and her office
Impartiality
Accused men seeking James’s removal
Lawyers for accused men say James’s social media post supporting the accuser showed bias and a presumption of guilt.
Letitia James and her office
James said Kelly would lead a fair and comprehensive investigation; the attorney general’s office said it would be guided by the facts, evidence and law.
The former student alleges she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity party in October; the local district attorney declined to bring charges that year.
The former student filed a lawsuit alleging that several men raped her at the party.
Governor Kathy Hochul appointed James as special prosecutor, saying she had lost faith in the local prosecutor.
A judge considered a request to remove James but deferred a decision.
James announced that Kelly would lead the reopened criminal investigation.
- Investigation lead
- Jacqueline Kelly
- Appointing official
- New York Attorney General Letitia James
- University
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Alleged incident
- October 2024 fraternity party
- Lawsuit filed
- September 2026
- Investigation team
- Lawyers and investigators from Boies Schiller Flexner and the attorney general’s office
4 sources
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Letitia James appoints ex-prosecutor to lead Cornell sexual assault investigation
Veteran sex crimes prosecutor to lead Cornell rape investigation
What people are saying
Jacqueline Kelly is a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial
All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case.
shown she is not objective.
It’s not a one-defendant case