Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor who handled cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, appeared in Manhattan federal court on Thursday as part of a lawsuit claiming she was fired in political retaliation against her father, former FBI director James Comey.
Comey was terminated in July, shortly after the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, whose prosecution she led. The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration dismissed her without explanation, citing only 'article 2 of the United States constitution and the laws of the United States' in an email. When she asked US attorney Jay Clayton for a reason, he reportedly said, 'All I can say is it came from Washington. I can’t tell you anything else.'
Comey's legal team argued that her termination was unjustified, noting she had received an exemplary review just three months earlier. The suit claims she was fired 'solely or substantially because her father is former FBI director James B Comey, or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both.'
Thursday's hearing was largely procedural, lasting less than an hour. Comey's lawyers urged the court to allow discovery to proceed, while government attorneys argued that an employment arbitration board should first weigh her allegations. The judge indicated he was inclined to postpone discovery until deciding the appropriate venue.
Comey is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and a declaration that the Department of Justice and others violated the separation of powers and her constitutional rights. Her father, James Comey, was fired by Trump in 2017 and has been a frequent target of the president's criticism.
