Cornell Alumna Jackie Kelly Takes Lead on Jane Doe Rape Investigation
Attorney General Letitia James assigned the federal prosecutor to oversee the probe after Governor Kathy Hochul removed the local district attorney.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Jackie Kelly will lead the criminal investigation into a former Cornell University student's claim of gang rape. New York Attorney General Letitia James named Kelly to the role on Wednesday. Kelly is a Cornell alumna and a partner at the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner.
Kelly previously served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. She headed the Civil Rights Unit for the Criminal Division. In that capacity, she oversaw prosecutions of Sean Combs and Peter Nygard. Her private practice focuses on representing women who allege they were trafficked or abused by Jeffrey Epstein.
Kelly stated that all New Yorkers deserve a fair and thorough inquiry into the facts. She added that she looks forward to applying her experience as a federal prosecutor to the Office of the Attorney General. The investigation will examine all available evidence.
Governor Kathy Hochul removed Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten earlier this year. Van Houten had declined to bring criminal charges after reviewing Jane Doe's statements to Cornell police. He described the allegations as morally disturbing but argued they did not meet the legal definition of rape under New York law. Hochul appointed James as special prosecutor last month.
Jane Doe alleged in November 2024 that she was raped by a group of men at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Seven fraternity brothers accused in the incident have denied wrongdoing. James has hired Kelly to gather evidence and conduct interviews. The attorney general's office stated that Kelly faces no deadline to reach a conclusion.
Two of the accused fraternity brothers are calling for James's removal from the case. Their attorney, Stuart Bernstein, argued that a social media post made by James before her appointment created a serious appearance of prejudgment. James has called the claims without merit, and Hochul expressed full confidence in James's handling of the matter.
New York law imposes no statute of limitations on the most serious sex offenses. The two-year limitation period for misdemeanors has already expired. Kelly will work with the attorney general's office to determine if the evidence supports criminal charges.
