James Names Former Diddy Prosecutor to Lead Cornell Case

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday named Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the criminal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, to lead the state's investigation into an alleged 2024 sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity house, according to NBC News.

Kelly, a Cornell graduate, previously served as 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. She is now a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, the firm that represented women who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, NBC News reported.

Why was the investigation ordered?

Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the review Oct. 1 after raising concerns that the local district attorney who originally considered charges did not conduct a proper assessment of the case, according to NBC News. James, who was re-elected as the state's top law enforcement official on Tuesday, announced Kelly's appointment two days after the election.

What does the attorney general's office say about Kelly?

James called Kelly "a seasoned prosecutor who has overseen numerous cases from investigation through trial," according to a statement cited by NBC News. "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 said.

Kelly, in her own statement, said: "All New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts of this case. 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."

What are the allegations at the Chi Phi fraternity?

A former Cornell student filed a lawsuit in September under the pseudonym Jane Doe, accusing seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity of plying her with drugs and sexually assaulting her after what began as a consensual encounter at the chapter's house on Oct. 19 and 20, 2024, NBC News reported. The woman later dropped out of school. She reported the incident to the university and to campus police in November 2024.

Investigation at a glance

• Oct. 19–20, 2024: Date of the alleged assault at the Chi Phi house, per the lawsuit.
• Nov. 2024: Woman reports the incident to Cornell and campus police, according to NBC News.
• Sept. 2026: Jane Doe lawsuit filed against seven fraternity members.
• Oct. 1, 2026: Gov. Hochul orders the attorney general's office to review the case.
• Nov. 4, 2026: James names Kelly to lead the inquiry.

What records has Cornell turned over?

Records reviewed by NBC News show the Cornell University Police Department interviewed several witnesses and obtained other investigative material following the student's November 2024 report, though the outlet's account of what those records show was not fully detailed in the material reviewed for this story.

What happens next?

No timeline for completing the review has been made public. Kelly's appointment places a prosecutor with federal civil rights and trial experience, plus direct knowledge of the Combs prosecution, in charge of determining what happened at the fraternity house and whether the original local review was adequate, per NBC News's reporting.