Attorney General Names Federal Prosecutor to Lead Cornell Fraternity House Investigation

New York Attorney General Letitia James has appointed Jackie Kelly to lead the criminal inquiry into a former Cornell University student's rape allegations.

The investigation focuses on an incident in 2024 where Jane Doe alleged she was raped by a group of men at the Chi Phi fraternity house on the Ithaca campus. All seven brothers accused in the matter have denied wrongdoing. James removed Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten earlier this month after he declined to bring charges. Van Houten had determined in 2024 that while the allegations were morally disturbing, they did not meet the legal definition of rape under New York law. He had planned to send the evidence to a grand jury before the governor intervened.

Kelly is a Cornell alumna and a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. She previously served as the inaugural Civil Rights Unit Chief for the Criminal Division, where she oversaw prosecutions for Sean Combs and Peter Nygard. She now works in private practice at Boies Schiller Flexner, representing victims of sexual assault and trafficking. Kelly stated that she thanks Attorney General James for the trust placed in her office. She added that all New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts. Kelly expressed her intent to use her federal prosecution experience to examine all available evidence.

James said the office is committed to an investigation guided only by the facts, evidence, and law. She described Kelly as a seasoned prosecutor with judicial experience and a commitment to public service. Governor Kathy Hochul, who appointed James as special prosecutor, stated she has every confidence in James's handling of the case. Two of the accused brothers have called for James's removal, citing a social media post she made before her appointment. Stuart Bernstein, an attorney for one of the brothers, argued that the public statement created a serious appearance of prejudgment. James has stated those claims are without merit.

The attorney general's office has not set a deadline for Kelly to reach a conclusion. There is no statute of limitations for the most serious sex offenses in New York. However, the two-year statute of limitation for misdemeanors has already expired. Kelly will gather and analyze evidence and conduct interviews as part of her role.