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Courts & Justice

New York attorney general names ex-prosecutor to lead Cornell sexual assault investigation

Jacqueline Kelly will lead the criminal inquiry and report to Letitia James, as lawyers for accused men seek to remove James over a social media post.

9 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
Liberal4 outletsKelly's credentials, plus questions around James's roleCenter4 outletsJames hires outside counsel as removal bid proceedsConservative1 outletEpstein victims' law firm and James's impartiality
Published 3 min read
Overview

New York Letitia James announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, that Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan, will head the state's criminal probe of a former Cornell student's sexual assault claims. The student, known as Jane Doe, said in a September lawsuit that several men assaulted her at a fraternity party in October 2024. Seven fraternity members are accused.

They deny wrongdoing and none has been charged. Kelly, a Cornell alumna, is a partner at the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner. She will oversee a team of lawyers from her firm and the attorney general's office, and will report to James.

Gov. Kathy Hochul made James special prosecutor on Oct. 1. She said she had lost faith in Tompkins County Matthew Van Houten, who declined to bring charges in 2024. Lawyers for some of the accused men want a judge to remove James, arguing that a social media post she wrote before her appointment shows bias for the accuser.

No ruling has been issued. James has said the investigation will take months.

Key figures
  • seven fraternity members accused by the former student — UPI
  • Sept. 16 date the lawsuit was filed in Manhattan — The Boston Globe

Three sides of the story

Liberal4 outlets

Kelly's credentials, plus questions around James's role

The New York Times report, run by The Boston Globe, opens with James naming Kelly to lead a criminal investigation and then turns to her firm. It notes that Boies Schiller Flexner has represented victims of Jeffrey Epstein and that founding partner David Boies was close to Harvey Weinstein. It quotes Andrew Miltenberg, a lawyer for one of the accused men, who says the appointment "changes the face of the investigation without establishing any change in ultimate authority."

The Guardian leads with James tapping a former prosecutor involved in the Sean Combs case. It ends on Judge James R Farrell, who deferred a ruling on removing James and said, "It's not a one-defendant case." MS NOW stresses Kelly's résumé, including her Cornell degree and her role in the Combs prosecution, and says James faces calls for her removal.

The Independent runs the AP wire report under a headline naming the Diddy and Peter Nygård cases.

Center4 outlets

James hires outside counsel as removal bid proceeds

UPI opens with James announcing Kelly as outside counsel for the state's inquiry into a reported gang rape at a Cornell fraternity. It then lays out the lawsuit against Cornell, the fraternity Chi Phi and the seven accused men, and the school's 2024 response: two students expelled, the chapter closed, and others made to write essays. UPI reports that one accused man, Lopes, asked a judge to remove James, and that Judge James Farrell gave his lawyers a week to learn whether the other six would join.

The Seattle Times runs the AP wire report. It notes that the announcement came the day after James, a Democrat, won a third term, and that she has said the probe will take months. It also recalls her earlier use of outside lawyers in the Cuomo harassment inquiry.

NewsNation's headline calls Kelly the "Diddy prosecutor" who will lead the investigation. The Journal's headline says James "Steps Back From Probe Into Alleged Cornell Assault," and it reports that she appointed a former federal prosecutor to lead the investigation.

Conservative1 outlet

Epstein victims' law firm and James's impartiality

Just the News leads with the firm. Its headline calls Kelly a "Partner from firm that represented victims of Epstein" and says she was appointed to lead the "Cornell 7" investigation. Citing the New York Times, it says she will oversee lawyers from the attorney general's office and the firm.

It reports that the seven accused men have denied any wrongdoing and that none has been charged. The piece says one lawyer, representing two of the accused, wants a judge to take James off the case and argues she has shown bias. It adds that comments James posted on X and Facebook on Sept. 28 "have drawn scrutiny of her impartiality," and quotes the post, including "you're not alone.

We stand with you." It also quotes James promising a "fair and comprehensive investigation" and notes that Kelly oversaw the conviction of Sean Combs on prostitution-related offenses.

All sources: 10 articles from 9 outlets

Liberal (5)

Center (4)

Conservative (1)

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