The U.S. Department of Justice has abruptly terminated veteran federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, a move that has raised serious questions due to her involvement in several high-profile cases, including those against Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Comey, who served as a trial attorney at the Southern District of New York (SDNY) since 2015, was reportedly given no reason for her dismissal. Her exit was confirmed by sources to CBS News, and comes amid an ongoing purge of Justice Department staff since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey whom Trump fired in 2017 had played pivotal roles in prosecutions related to sex trafficking and racketeering. Her removal follows the recent conclusion of the Diddy trial, where her team failed to secure convictions on the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. Combs was instead found guilty on lesser counts.
The Justice Department, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has not commented publicly on the firing. However, her dismissal coincides with rising scrutiny of the administration’s handling of files related to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. Bondi initially suggested Epstein’s client list would be released but later reversed her stance, stating there was “no incriminating list.”
President Trump has recently escalated his rhetoric on social media, denouncing supporters who claim a cover-up in the Epstein case and distancing himself from conspiracy narratives. Meanwhile, political tensions continue to swirl around James Comey, who is under federal investigation for past congressional testimony, and recently attracted controversy over a social media post perceived as threatening toward Trump.
The firing of Comey is part of a broader shake-up at the Justice Department, which last week saw the dismissal of at least 20 staffers involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump’s alleged misconduct. Several prosecutors connected to the January 6 Capitol riot cases have also been let go, sparking concerns about political interference in the judicial system. The Justice Department has yet to provide clarity on the motivations behind these firings.
