NY Attorney General Names Former Diddy Prosecutor to Lead Cornell Fraternity Assault Probe
Photo: NBC NewsNew York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday that Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the criminal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, will lead the investigation into an alleged 2024 sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity house. Kelly, a Cornell graduate, was 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, which she joined in 2025. James, who was re-elected Tuesday, said in a statement that Kelly is a seasoned prosecutor who can lead a fair and comprehensive investigation. Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the review Oct. 1 after raising concerns that the local district attorney who first considered charges had not done a proper assessment. Kelly said she looks forward to examining all available evidence. The case involves a woman who recently sued, alleging a gang rape by seven fraternity members. One of the men being probed, Winston Lee, is represented by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, two of Combs' lead trial lawyers.
NBC News and MS NOW, on the left, lead with the appointment and Kelly's résumé. NBC adds James' and Kelly's statements, the firm's past representation of women who accused Jeffrey Epstein, and Hochul's role in ordering the review because of concerns about the district attorney. MS NOW's headline calls it a "rape probe" but is otherwise brief. The New York Post, on the right, uses harsher language, calling the case a "gang rape" by seven frat brothers and using the label "Cornell 7." It stresses Kelly's work on the Combs and Peter Nygard prosecutions, her seat in the courtroom gallery during the trial, and that Combs' lawyers now represent Lee. Unlike NBC, the Post's excerpt does not mention Hochul's order. Both sides quote James' statement and identify Kelly as a Cornell graduate and Combs prosecutor. NewsNation's coverage largely matches the others in a brief headline.
How the sides differ Left sources stress Kelly's credentials and Hochul's ordered review; right sources stress the alleged gang rape and Kelly's Combs ties; alternative sources give only a brief headline.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
NBC News and MS NOW lead with Kelly's appointment and credentials, quoting James and Kelly, and NBC adds Gov. Hochul's Oct. 1 order for the review.
NewsNation gives a brief report that Kelly, the Diddy prosecutor, will lead the Cornell fraternity rape investigation, with few other details.
The New York Post calls it the 'Cornell 7' gang rape case, stressing Kelly's Combs and Nygard prosecutions and that Combs' former lawyers represent one accused man.