Former SDNY prosecutor Maurene Comey sues over her firing
Former Southern District of New York prosecutor Maurene Comey has filed a lawsuit alleging that her dismissal from the U.S. Attorney’s office was unjust and likely motivated by her father’s identity. Comey, who handled high-profile cases involving individuals such as Sean Combs, Robert Hadden, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, was terminated in July without a clear reason or due process.
The lawsuit claims that President Donald Trump, the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other defendants failed to provide a legitimate explanation for Comey’s firing. Instead, the lawsuit suggests that Comey was let go because of her father, former FBI Director James B. Comey, and her perceived political affiliations. This alleged politically motivated termination undermines the principles of democracy and the justice system, according to the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on the lawsuit when approached by ABC News. Comey stated that she was handling a significant public corruption case when she received an abrupt termination email on July 16, removing her from federal service immediately.
According to the lawsuit, Comey’s supervisors were taken aback by the decision, and Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, offered no explanation other than stating that the directive came from Washington. Comey’s legal team argues that the president does not have the authority to dismiss career federal prosecutors for perceived disloyalty.
The lawsuit emphasizes that neither the President nor the Department of Justice can arbitrarily remove Assistant United States Attorneys who are career civil servants. Comey is seeking to be reinstated to her position and receive back pay as part of her legal action.
