Maurene Comey, daughter of ex-FBI Director James, sues DOJ to get back US Attorney’s Office job
Ousted federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, who prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs at the powerful Manhattan US Attorney’s Office, sued the Justice Department Monday over what she called her “illegal” and politically motivated firing.
The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey — who was fired by President Trump early in his first term — charged that her “unconstitutional” July canning was due to her notorious dad, as well as “her perceived political affiliation and beliefs.”
The Justice Department has not given a reason for Comey’s sacking, which came while she was prepping for the October sentencing of Combs.
“In truth, there is no legitimate explanation,” Comey argued in her suit, filed in Manhattan federal court.
The suit notes Comey’s work prosecuting Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison following a conviction on federal sex trafficking charges.
The former prosecutor asked a federal judge to order her reinstatement to the Manhattan US Attorney’s office effective immediately, and to declare that the White House did not have the legal authority to remove her in the first place.
Comey learned of her firing in a July 16 email from the DOJ’s human resources staff, the suit says.
The message claimed her removal was pursuant to Article II of the US Constitution, which outlines the powers of the President.
Soon after, Comey asked Trump’s pick to lead the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office, Jay Clayton, for an explanation.
“All I can say is it came from Washington. I can’t tell you anything else,” Clayton told her, according to the suit.
James Comey became a prominent Trump critic after the 45th president ousted him on May 9, 2017, amid an ongoing FBI probe of his 2016 campaign’s links with Russian officials.
In May, the elder Comey was interviewed by the Secret Service after posing and deleting an image on Instagram of seashells spelling out the numbers “86 47″ — a message calling for the removal of the commander in chief.
Trump administration officials claimed that the post amounted to a death threat against the commander-in-chief and several of the president’s supporters called for Maurene Comey’s firing.
One of those was far-right internet personality Laura Loomer, who, “on information and belief, has political influence in the Trump Administration, including influence over the termination of federal employees,” Comey’s suit says.
“President Trump has publicly stated: ‘If you’re Loomered you’re in deep trouble. That’s the end of your career in a sense,’” the suit reads.
Loomer has also repeatedly made anti-Muslim statements, including calling Islam a “cancer” and referring to herself as a “#proudIslamophobe.”
Following the furor over James Comey’s post, Loomer insisted that his daughter be removed from the Manhattan US Attorney’s office “for being a national security risk via their proximity to a criminal [i.e ., Mr. Comey] who just committed a felony by threatening to assassinate the President,” the suit says.
The Justice Department did not respond Monday to a request for comment.