Maurene Comey, a US lawyer and prosecutor in Combs’ case, arrives in federal court on May 21, 2025 during a conspiracy trial for sex trafficking and assault of Sean “Diddy” Combs in a US court in Manhattan, New York City.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor involved in the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein and Gislaine Maxwell, sued the Justice Department on Monday after being fired from the Trump administration in July.
Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, has not been explained about her “illegal and unconstitutional” dismissal, her attorney wrote in a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan.
“In reality, there is no valid explanation,” they wrote.
“In fact, the defendant was fired only or substantially only or substantially only or substantially because of her father being former FBI director James B. Comey, or because of her political affiliation and/or recognition of her beliefs.”
The suit appoints the Department of Justice, the President’s Office of Enforcement and their respective leaders as defendants, as well as the Personnel Management Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Enforcement.
The Department of Justice declined to request comment on the CNBC case.
Comey is the latest of dozens of DOJ employees who turned to court after being fired in Trump’s second term.
Comey, like many other exiled government officials, was targeted by far-right activist Laura Rumer, who was praised for her influence in the Trump administration to fire people.
After Comey was fired in mid-July, Rumer boasted that the move followed “My Pressure Campaign to fire my step-son from DOJ following Attorney General Pam Bondy’s Pressure Campaign.”
Comey’s husband, Lucas Isakharov, “voluntarily resigned” from DOJ in May, according to the lawsuit.
Following her expulsion, Comey warned that she was the example to quell potential objections within the DOJ.
“If a career prosecutor could be fired for no reason, fear could permeate the decisions of those who remain,” Comey wrote in a farewell note to staff at the Manhattan U.S. Lawyer’s Office.
“Fear is the tool of a tyrant and acts to restrain independent thought. Instead of fear, in this moment, you can burn a fire that is already burning in the heart of this place,” she wrote. “The fire of justice digging against the abuse of power. of a commitment to seeking justice for the victims.”
– CNBC’s Jim Fokin contributed to this report.