SDNY dismisses Maurene Comey, the prosecutor handling the Epstein case, from her position.
Maurene Comey, a distinguished federal prosecutor known for her work in high-profile cases, was dismissed from her position at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on July 16, 2025. The exact reason for her termination has not been explicitly stated by the Justice Department, with Comey herself remaining silent on the matter.
Notably, Comey played a significant role in several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell, and had involvement in the office's case against Jeffrey Epstein. The Combs prosecution resulted in some convictions but acquittal on more serious charges, while the Maxwell case led to a significant conviction related to sex trafficking.
It is also worth noting that Maurene Comey is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, who was dismissed by President Trump in 2017 amidst controversy surrounding the Russia investigation. Reports suggest that Trump privately expressed displeasure about having a Comey within his administration, and this firing occurred during a period of significant personnel changes at the Southern District of New York, including the stepping aside of the office’s top prosecutor earlier in 2025.
A person familiar with the situation stated that being a Comey is untenable in this administration given James Comey's history of going after the current administration. However, the administration to which this refers has not been specified.
As this is a developing story, further details are expected to emerge. The Southern District of New York declined to comment on the matter. It appears that the firing of Maurene Comey may be connected to a broader pattern of administrative changes under the presidential authority and possibly influenced by political considerations related to her family background and high-profile cases she handled.
The dismissal of Maurene Comey, a prominent federal prosecutor known for her work in various general-news cases like the Sean "Diddy" Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell prosecutions, may be connected to political considerations, considering her family background and high-profile cases she handled. Moreover, this firing occurred during a period of significant personnel changes in the Southern District of New York, potentially aligning with a broader pattern of political changes under the presidential administration.
