Letitia James hands the 'Cornell 7' gang rape probe to a Diddy case prosecutor despite calls for her recusal

Jacqueline Kelly, a Cornell alumna and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, was named Wednesday as outside counsel to lead the criminal inquiry into the alleged gang rape of a student at a fraternity party in October 2024. Kelly spent close to ten years as a Manhattan federal prosecutor, heading the civil rights unit that pursued sex crimes cases against Sean 'Diddy' Combs and fashion executive Peter Nygård. Her responsibilities will include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and reporting directly to Attorney General Letitia James, who had won re-election to a third term just one day before the appointment was made.

Two of the accused fraternity brothers are seeking James's removal from the probe, pointing to a social media post in which she expressed support for the accuser as proof of bias.

President Trump had previously called on James to recuse herself over those same prejudicial comments before her appointment of a special prosecutor.

One defendant, Winston Lee, is being represented by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos — the same lawyers who defended Combs at his sex trafficking trial.