Ex-Epstein Case Prosecutor Maurene Comey Discharged from US Attorney's Office Position
In a recent development, Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor known for her work on high-profile cases, has been dismissed from her position at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The reason behind her firing remains unclear at this time [1][3].
Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, joined the Southern District in 2015. She made headlines recently for her role in the prosecution of Sean "Diddy" Combs, resulting in a conviction on lesser charges but an acquittal on more serious ones [1][2].
The dismissal comes amidst a period of upheaval within the U.S. Attorney's Office. Earlier this year, the office saw a significant leadership shakeup when then-acting US Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigned instead of dropping the federal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams [3].
Reports suggest that past tensions between President Trump and the Comey family may have played a role in Maurene Comey's firing. Trump had previously expressed dissatisfaction about having a Comey in his administration [1][2]. However, it remains unclear whether these factors directly influenced her dismissal.
Meanwhile, the Epstein case, which has long captured significant public attention, has been marked by controversy. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was found unresponsive in his cell at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center in 2019 and later pronounced dead at a hospital, with his death ruled a suicide [4]. The Trump administration announced that it does not plan to release any more documents in the Epstein investigation [5].
Maurene Comey was a lead prosecutor in the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell, Epstein's associate, was convicted and is currently serving a 20-year sentence, having appealed [6].
CNN has reached out to the White House and the Department of Justice for comment on Comey's firing, but as of now, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has declined to comment [1][7]. The story is still developing, and further details are expected to emerge.
Additionally, it's worth noting that James Comey, Maurene's father, is currently under investigation for possible false statements to Congress [8]. Former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan are also under investigation by the Trump Justice Department [9].
In a separate incident, James Comey was questioned by the US Secret Service after posting a photo on social media that some interpreted as a call for violence against the president, which he has denied [10]. Trump has also attacked the credibility of the federal investigation into Epstein, claiming that the files were made up by Comey, Obama, and Biden's administration [11].
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Sources: [1] https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/federal-prosecutor-maurene-comey-fired/index.html [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/us/politics/maurene-comey-fired-prosecutor.html [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/18/federal-prosecutor-maurene-comey-fired/ [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/10/us/jeffrey-epstein-dead.html [5] https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/epstein-documents-release-trump/index.html [6] https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/29/us/ghislaine-maxwell-sentencing/index.html [7] https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/federal-prosecutor-maurene-comey-fired/index.html [8] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/10/us/politics/james-comey-investigation.html [9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/05/17/james-comey-john-brennan-investigated-trump-justice-department/ [10] https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/politics/james-comey-secret-service-interview/index.html [11] https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/trump-epstein-controversy/index.html
Maurene Comey, who was a lead prosecutor in the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was dismissed from her position at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, a development that falls under the category of general-news and politics. This move comes during a period of upheaval within the office, and the reason behind her firing remains unclear, raising questions within the realms of crime-and-justice and politics.
