Maurene Comey, the federal prosecutor who handled high-profile cases against Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell and, most recently, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, has filed a lawsuit challenging her abrupt dismissal from the US Department of Justice, alleging it was politically motivated retaliation against her father, former FBI director James Comey.
According to court filings, Comey was dismissed on 16 July without explanation, receiving only a brief email citing “article 2 of the United States constitution and the laws of the United States”. When she sought clarification, interim US attorney Jay Clayton reportedly told her: “All I can say is it came from Washington. I can’t tell you anything else.”
The lawsuit states that just three months earlier, the 35-year-old prosecutor had received a highly positive performance review from the same official who later informed her of her termination. She is seeking reinstatement, back pay and a declaration that her removal was unconstitutional.
Her dismissal followed a public campaign by far-right activist Laura Loomer, a prominent supporter of the Trump administration, who in May urged her 1.7 million followers on X to demand the firing of James Comey’s “liberal daughter”. Loomer later celebrated the decision, claiming credit for influencing it.
The complaint alleges the move was intended to punish James Comey, who has been the subject of repeated attacks by President Trump, including hundreds of social media posts labelling him the “worst” FBI director in history. Tensions rose further in May when the former FBI chief posted an image of seashells spelling “8647”, which Trump interpreted as a threat.
Maurene Comey’s record includes securing Maxwell’s conviction for sex trafficking, prosecuting former gynaecologist Robert Hadden for sexual abuse, and leading the team that won the recent conviction of Combs.
The administration has argued that article 2 grants the president unfettered authority to remove career prosecutors. The lawsuit contends this interpretation breaches the constitutional separation of powers and violates federal employment protections.
In a farewell message to colleagues, Comey warned: “If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decision of those who remain. Do not let that happen.”
