Trump administration facing lawsuit from dismissed federal prosecutor Maurene Comey aiming to reinstate her position
Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor, has taken legal action against the U.S. government, alleging that her dismissal from the Department of Justice was unlawful and a violation of the Constitution's "Separation of Powers" clause.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that Comey's firing in July 2022, under the administration of President Donald Trump, was politically motivated. The specific person responsible for the decision remains unnamed in the sources.
Comey was a rising star in her office, known for her work on high-profile cases such as the prosecution of financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, and the recent prosecution of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. She also oversaw the team that handled the prosecution of then-U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, on bribery charges, resulting in their convictions at trial.
The lawsuit notes that the Civil Service Reform Act provides protections governing how and why a federal employee can be terminated, including specific prohibitions against termination for discriminatory reasons such as political affiliation. However, Comey's lawsuit states that her firing was based on her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or because her father is James Comey, a former FBI director.
Upon being fired, Comey entered the Public Corruption Unit offices, finding her supervisors "visibly shocked and upset by the news." U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, who entered the office after Comey, when asked why she was fired, responded, "All I can say is it came from Washington. I can't tell you anything else."
The Justice Department has a history of firing prosecutors who worked on cases that have provoked Trump's ire, including some involved in U.S. Capitol riot cases and special counsel Jack Smith's prosecutions of Trump.
The lawsuit names the Justice Department, the Executive Office of the President, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, the Office of Personnel Management, and the United States as defendants. Comey is seeking to be reinstated and a declaration that her firing was unlawful.
The lawsuit also alleges that adverse harmful effects, including lost employment and reputational harm, have resulted from her firing. The Justice Department declined to comment on the lawsuit.
This lawsuit follows a several-week-long campaign by right-wing internet personality Laura Loomer to get Comey fired. Meanwhile, Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, is serving an 11-year prison term, while his wife was sentenced last week to 4 1/2 years in prison. Jeffrey Epstein took his own life in a federal jail in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. Sean Combs is awaiting sentencing next month after his conviction on prostitution-related charges. Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges. She has been transferred from a prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas.
James Comey, Maurene's father, was previously fired as FBI director by President Donald Trump in 2017.
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