Former federal prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly to lead Cornell sex assault investigation

Key Points:

• Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor with extensive experience in sex crime cases, has been appointed by the New York attorney general’s office to lead the criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations at Cornell University.
• The investigation centers on claims by a former Cornell student, Jane Doe, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by seven male students at a fraternity party in 2024; the accused have denied the allegations.
• The appointment follows New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order designating Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor, citing loss of faith in the local district attorney’s handling of the case.
• Kelly’s background includes overseeing high-profile sex crime and organized crime cases, and she will coordinate the investigation alongside staff from the attorney general’s office and her law firm, Boies Schiller.
• Legal challenges from two accused students claim bias by James due to her public supportive statements toward Doe; however, a judge has questioned these claims and requested further legal arguments or support from other accused students.