Former ‘Diddy’ prosecutor to lead investigation into alleged Cornell sexual assault

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday that a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the criminal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs will lead the investigation into an alleged 2024 sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity house.

Former federal prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly, a Cornell graduate, was also the first chief of the civil rights unit in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Kelly is now a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, a firm that represented women who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse.

James, who was re-elected as the state’s top law enforcement official Tuesday, said in a statement that Kelly “is a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial.”

“With her criminal legal expertise, commitment to public service, and judicial experience, I am confident that she will lead a fair and comprehensive investigation,” James added.

In a statement, Kelly thanked James for the opportunity to lead the review that was ordered Oct. 1 by Gov. Kathy Hochul after the governor raised concerns that the local district attorney who originally considered charges did not do a proper assessment.

“All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case,” Kelly said in a 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.”

A former Cornell student filed a lawsuit under the pseudonym Jane Doe in September, accusing seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity of plying her with drugs and sexually assaulting her after what was initially a consensual threesome at the chapter’s house on Oct. 19 and 20, 2024.

The woman, who later dropped out of school, reported the incident to the university and to campus police in November 2024. Records reviewed by NBC News show that the Cornell University Police Department interviewed several witnesses and obtained other evidence.