Diddy Prosecutor To Lead Cornell Sexual Assault Investigation

The former federal prosecutor who helped oversee Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-crimes case has been selected to lead another high-profile investigation, this time involving allegations of sexual assault at Cornell University. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday (Nov. 4) that Jacqueline Kelly will serve as outside counsel in the reopened criminal investigation, nearly two years after the alleged incident.

Kelly previously served as chief of the Civil Rights Unit in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. During her tenure, she oversaw investigations and prosecutions involving Combs and disgraced fashion executive Peter Nygård, according to The Associated Press. She left federal service in 2025 and joined Boies Schiller Flexner, where she is currently a partner.

Her appointment places her in charge of a team of attorneys and investigators from her firm and the New York Attorney General's Office. The group will review previous investigative records, interview witnesses, and examine evidence connected to allegations made by a former Cornell student. "All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case," Kelly said in the Nov. 4 statement. "I look forward to lending my years of experience as a federal prosecutor to the Office of the Attorney General as we examine all available evidence."

The investigation stems from a September 2026 lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe. She alleges that several men sexually assaulted her at a Chi Phi fraternity gathering in October 2024 after she was pressured to consume drugs and alcohol. Seven men named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to pursue criminal charges in 2024. Although he later moved to reopen the investigation, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed James as special prosecutor on Oct. 1, citing a loss of confidence in the local district attorney's handling of the allegations.

Cornell also conducted its own disciplinary investigation. According to the university's public explanation of its response, hearings resulted in sanctions. This included student suspensions and expulsions. The Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus. Those disciplinary proceedings were separate from the criminal investigation.

Cornell has separately retained former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to examine the university's handling of the allegations. Kelly, who is herself a Cornell alumna, will report to James' office as the criminal investigation proceeds. Her team's findings could determine whether prosecutors present evidence to a grand jury, a possibility that was left unexplored when the original district attorney declined charges in 2024.