Trump administration illegally fired James Comey's daughter, judge rules
Maurene Comey believes she was let go from her job as a federal prosecutor because her father is the former FBI director.
Trump administration unlawfully fired James Comey’s daughter, judge says
The US justice department unlawfully dismissed Maurene Comey, the daughter of former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey, a federal judge has ruled.
Comey, who was removed from her post as a federal prosecutor in New York in July 2025, sued the government, saying she was illegally fired because of her father, a critic of US President Donald Trump, and because of her perceived political affiliations.
On Monday, Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate her and that she must receive back pay.
A justice department spokesperson said in a statement that it disagreed with the ruling and "will appeal in due course".
In his decision, Judge Furman said Comey’s dismissal breached the US Constitution and her right to fair legal process.
He said the US attorney general may fire federal prosecutors, but only "in a particular manner and only for certain reasons".
Furman noted that in Comey’s position, "she was assigned some of the country's highest profile cases and consistently received the highest accolades from supervisors and peers alike".
Comey has worked on cases involving the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was convicted last year on prostitution-related charges involving his two ex-girlfriends.
Furman ordered that Comey be paid back pay from July until December 2025, when she took a new job.
In a statement, Comey’s lawyers said: "This hard-earned victory belongs to Ms Comey, to all civil servants, and to all fighting for the rule of law".
Comey had earlier said the only explanation she was given for her firing was that it "came from Washington".
A complaint filed by her lawyers in September 2025 said they believed Comey had been fired "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 justice department said in court filings that the decision was made by former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Trump administration has twice filed charges against James Comey, including for allegedly lying to Congress, but that case was dismissed by a judge who said the prosecutor who brought it was unlawfully appointed.
Earlier this year, the justice department charged Comey with knowingly and wilfully making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm on, the president. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The case arises from a 2025 Instagram post shared by Comey, which showed a photo of seashells on a beach arranged to spell "86 47". "Eighty-six" is slang for "get rid of", and prosecutors say it encourages violence against Trump.