NEW YORK — Maurene Comey, the dismissed federal prosecutor, has initiated legal action against the U.S. government, asserting that her sudden termination was precipitate and devoid of justifiable grounds or notification, thereby rendering it both unlawful and unconstitutional.
The lawsuit was lodged in the federal court of Manhattan, where Comey—daughter of the former FBI director James Comey—garnered accolades for her adept management of intricate prosecutions, particularly in cases involving sexual abuse.
Key Highlights
- Dismissed federal prosecutor Maurene Comey filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government on Monday, contesting her abrupt termination in July as unlawful and unconstitutional.
- The legal action was taken in Manhattan federal court, where Comey is recognized for her skilled handling of high-stakes prosecutions, particularly in sexual abuse matters.
- She rose to prominence through her work on the prosecution of financier Jeffrey Epstein and his former associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, along with the recent trial involving music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs.
- Comey is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, who was ousted by President Donald Trump in 2017.
In her lawsuit, Comey seeks not only reinstatement but also a judicial pronouncement declaring her dismissal unlawful, asserting that it infringed upon the “Separation of Powers” doctrine articulated in the U.S. Constitution.
“The defendants have failed to provide any justifiable rationale for terminating Ms. Comey. In fact, no legitimate reason exists,” the complaint asserts, positing that her termination was influenced by her father’s identity, her perceived political affiliations, or a combination of both.
James Comey has publicly criticized President Trump since his firing, even penning a memoir that takes issue with the former president’s conduct. The lawsuit references a social media post from May in which Trump and others were perceived as threatening figures.
Notably, Maurene Comey’s dismissal occurred the day following her supervisors’ request for her leadership on a significant public corruption probe, and a mere three months after her latest evaluation, which was rated as “Outstanding.”
“The politically motivated termination of Ms. Comey — ostensibly enacted under ‘Article II of the Constitution’ — undermines fundamental principles integral to our democratic framework and justice system,” the lawsuit states.
“Assistant United States Attorneys like Ms. Comey must operate without the fear of political retribution, guided solely by legal tenets and the pursuit of justice.”
The suit names several defendants, including the Justice Department, the Executive Office of the President, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, the Office of Personnel Management, and the United States itself.
As of now, the Justice Department has not responded to requests for commentary.
Comey’s firing on July 16 coincided with a wave of prosecutor dismissals by the Justice Department that were executed without explanation, raising concerns about the safeguarding of civil service protections designed to shield against politically motivated terminations.
Additionally, the Justice Department has dismissed other prosecutors involved in cases that have drawn President Trump’s ire, including those overseeing prosecutions related to the U.S. Capitol riot and attorneys involved in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump.
Comey had gained recognition for her pivotal role in prosecuting cases against financier Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as the high-profile case against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence following her December 2021 conviction for sex trafficking, while Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in August 2019 as he awaited trial.
Combs is facing sentencing next month after being convicted of prostitution-related offenses, having previously been acquitted of more serious sex trafficking charges.
Source link: Spectrumlocalnews.com.
