What to know about Maurene Comey, Epstein prosecutor reportedly fired by DOJ
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Maurene Comey exits from federal court in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Photo: Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Maurene Comey, the federal prosecutor who worked on both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal cases, was fired on Wednesday, Politico first reported.
The big picture: It was not immediately clear why Maurene Comey was dismissed from her job, but her firing is also notable because she is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, who was fired by President Trump during his first term.
- Her father is reportedly under investigation by the Trump administration in connection with the Russia probe.
Context: Before her firing, Maurene Comey led the prosecution of Sean "Diddy" Combs in a sex trafficking and racketeering trial. The jury cleared him of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges but convicted him of prostitution-related charges.
- She served for nearly a decade as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Zoom in: Maurene Comey previously successfully prosecuted gang members, drugs and firearm traffickers and murderers, according to the DOJ website.
- She also led the prosecution of Epstein's assistant Ghislaine Maxwell. who was convicted of sex trafficking and sentenced 20 years in prison.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press conference on Thursday that Comey's firing "was a decision made by the Department of Justice."
- The Southern District of New York and the Department of Justice declined to comment.
What she's saying: ""Every person lucky enough to work in this office constantly hears four words to describe our ethos: Without Fear or Favor. Do the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons without fear of retribution and without favor to the powerful," Comey said in an internal email, multiple outlets reported.
- "Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place."
The intrigue: Leading voices in Trump's MAGA base have for months called for Maurene Comey's ouster.
- Among them was far-right activist Laura Loomer, who responded to news of her firing by calling on X for the dismissal of Comey's husband, Lucas Issacharoff, an assistant U.S. attorney in the civil rights division.
- Loomer has also been leading MAGA calls for the release of the Epstein files, after the Trump administration said there was no evidence to suggest the disgraced financier was murdered or kept a "client list."
- Maurene Comey successfully argued in a court filing last year that the disclosure of investigative records concerning Epstein would likely interfere with Maxwell's appeal.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with White House comment and reported details of Maurene Comey's email.
