Federal prosecutor Maurene Comey is already a household name for her role in the high-profile cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Now, she’s following through on that promise by suing the DOJ to be reinstated after she was fired from the Trump administration this past July. Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, says her firing was “unlawful and unconstitutional.” In addition, she claims that she was given no reason for her firing.
Comey’s firing was unexpected and stunning to most. Until recently, she had been personally litigating high profile cases, such as the sex trafficking and racketeering actions against Sean “Diddy” Combs. The process Combs is on trial for is still unfolding in a Manhattan, New York City courtroom. Comey approaching the Federal courthouse as the dramatic legal proceedings continue.
She sued the NYC government in federal court in Manhattan. In it, she alleges that her firing was an attempt to suppress dissent inside the DOJ. According to her attorneys, “In truth, there is no legitimate explanation.” They claim that her firing is meant to intimidate other DOJ employees who might be thinking about engaging in independent thought or action.
Here, Comey articulated her broader misgivings about what firing her would mean, including in emails to peers. In her farewell message to employees at the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office, she emphasized staying power. She called on people to resist the divide and conquer fear mongering of the elite.
“Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns in the heart of this place,” – CNBC
Her attorneys characterized Comey’s predicament as a wake-up call. They stated that her experience should ignite “a fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for victims.”
With this legal journey now in uncharted territory, Comey is taking the fight. She is seeking to be reinstated to her position, and to hold the DOJ accountable for her firing without cause. Her lawsuit has the potential to be monumental. It could affect the way DOJ interacts with their own workforce, and shift the internal power balance within the agency.