Maurene Comey, prosecutor in Epstein and Combs cases and daughter of former FBI director, sues after being fired

Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan, has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department and other parts of the Trump administration.
She was fired in July 2025. The firing was abrupt, and she says she wasn’t given any legitimate cause.
Comey claims the reason for her dismissal was political—to punish her for being the daughter of James Comey, former FBI Director, who has been a vocal Trump critic. She also alleges her perceived political beliefs played a role.
At the time of her firing, she had recently earned an “Outstanding” performance review and had just been asked to take the lead on “a major public corruption case.”
The form of termination was via an email from DOJ human resources citing Article II of the U.S. Constitution and laws of the U.S., but giving no real explanation. When she asked for clarification, she was told “All I can say is it came from Washington.”

This lawsuit highlights concerns about politicization of the Justice Department—whether line prosecutors can be removed for reasons tied to political loyalty or familial connections rather than performance or misconduct.
It raises constitutional questions—including those surrounding civil service protections, separation of powers, and whether presidents or senior administration officials can remove non-political staff for vague or political reasons.
The case adds to a pattern of dismissals of prosecutors under this DOJ who worked on high-profile or politically sensitive cases—including cases Trump or his allies have criticized.

If Comey’s claims are proven, this could limit or check the ability of the executive branch to remove career prosecutors for political or familial reasons without jeopardizing constitutional norms.
It could impact morale and independence in the DOJ: prosecutors might become more cautious or self-censor if they believe political retribution is possible.
The case may set legal precedent for how civil service law is enforced and what counts as wrongful termination or political retaliation.
Public trust is at stake—if DOJ actions are seen as biased or retaliatory, that may erode confidence in fairness of prosecutions.

The lawsuit seeks reinstatement to her position in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office. Reuters+2AP News+2
She is also asking for a judicial declaration that her firing was unlawful and unconstitutional, including violations of civil service protections and constitutional separation of powers. AP News+1
Additional remedies sought include back pay, legal costs, and presumably damages for reputational harm. AP News

Published: September 15, 2025 Politico+2AP News+2
Sources: Reuters, Washington Post, AP, Politico among others. Reuters+3AP News+3Politico+3

Janice Thompson

Janice Thompson enjoys writing about business, constitutional legal matters and the rule of law.