DOJ unlawfully fired Epstein prosecutor Maurene Comey, judge rules
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U.S. attorney Maurene Comey arrives for the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial on May 22, 2025, in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The Trump administration broke the law when it abruptly fired Maurene Comey, a former prosecutor who worked on cases involving Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jeffrey Epstein, a federal judge ruled Monday.
The big picture: Comey, whose father is one of the president's top foes, alleged her firing was politically motivated.
- Maurene Comey's father, James, is embroiled in ongoing legal fights with the administration. President Trump fired him as FBI director in 2017.
Driving the news: Comey's removal was not authorized by any statute and violated the Civil Service Reform Act, which governs how and when executive branch employees can be removed from office, U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman said in his order.
- "[I]n in purporting to fire Comey pursuant to Article II and the laws of the United States," Furman wrote that the administration "invented a new and expansive theory of executive power."
- He granted her retroactive reinstatement and back pay from the date she was fired through December 20, 2025.
- A DOJ spokesperson told Axios that it "disagrees with this decision and will appeal in due course."
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Catch up quick: Comey sued in September 2025 over her firing.
- Her attorneys argued that the administration fired her "solely or substantially because her father is former FBI Director James B. Comey, or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both."
What they're saying: "As the Court correctly held, to accept the government's argument about unlimited executive power 'would be to unsettle the very equilibrium established by this nation's constitutional system,'" Comey's attorneys said in a statement provided to Axios.
- They added, "This decision reaffirms our bedrock system of checks and balances: the President is not above the law."
Zoom out: Earlier in the president's term, former Attorney General Pam Bondi purged DOJ employees who worked on cases involving the Jan. 6 riot or Trump's classified document case.
- Earlier this month, nine former FBI agents and intelligence personnel sued the administration, alleging they were unlawfully fired for their work probing Trump's handling of classified documents.
What we're watching: Comey's father continues to fight the administration's prosecution over a social media post he shared that the DOJ alleges threatened the president — a charge James Comey staunchly denies.
- His arraignment in that case has been pushed back to early next year.
Go deeper: What to know about James Comey and his history with President Trump
