AG Letitia James Appoints Outside Counsel to Lead Cornell University Criminal Investigation

Attorney General Letitia James has appointed Jacqueline Kelly as outside counsel to lead the criminal investigation into allegations involving Cornell University. The investigation stems from a lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student — referred to publicly as Jane Doe — who alleged she was gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2024; all seven men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations. Kelly previously served as chief of the Civil Rights Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and joined the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner in 2025. She is also a Cornell alumna. James said Kelly's criminal legal expertise and judicial experience make her well suited to lead a fair and comprehensive investigation. Kelly's team will gather evidence, review prior investigative materials, interview witnesses, and report findings to James. The victim's attorney expressed support for the appointment. James had previously faced calls to step down over a social media post she made about the case before her appointment as special prosecutor.