Ex-Epstein prosecutor sues Trump administration over firing
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Former U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey on May 22, 2025. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.
Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor who worked on cases involving Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, sued the Trump administration on Monday for what her attorneys called an "unlawful and unconstitutional" termination.
Why it matters: Comey's legal team argues that she was fired in retaliation for the actions of her father, former FBI director James Comey. Maurene Comey's allegations reflect an ongoing pattern of the president and his allies targeting perceived political enemies within what he calls the "deep state."
What they're saying: "Ms. Comey's termination—without cause, without advance notice, and without any opportunity to contest it—was unlawful and unconstitutional," Comey's attorneys wrote in a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York.
- "Defendants have not provided any explanation whatsoever for terminating Ms. Comey. In truth, there is no legitimate explanation. Rather, Defendants fired Ms. Comey solely or substantially because her father is former FBI Director James B. Comey, or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both."
- The White House referred Axios to the Justice Department, which declined to comment.
Context: Trump fired James Comey in 2017 over his statements about the Russia probe.
By the numbers: According to the lawsuit, Trump has posted (or reposted) about James Comey on social media approximately 259 times since 2016, including repeatedly calling him the "worst" FBI director in history.
Zoom out: Maurene Comey is not the only former federal employee who has sued the Trump administration for what they perceive as a politically-calculated terminations.
- Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook sued the administration last month after Trump tried to fire her in an effort to influence the central bank's interest rate policy. A judge temporarily blocked Cook's firing last week.
- Federal Trade commissioner Rebecca Slaughter was reinstated to her position earlier this month after a judge ruled it was illegal to fire her.
- A group of federal employees fired for participating in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities filed a complaint against the administration in March.
Go deeper: Trump's authoritarian streak
