A federal judge ruled Monday that the US Department of Justice unlawfully fired Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor in New York. Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was summarily dismissed from her position as an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York in July 2025.
Judge Jesse Furman noted that Comey had served as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan for around a decade. During her tenure, she worked on some of the nation's highest-profile cases and consistently received stellar reviews and the highest accolades from her supervisors and peers.
Comey sued the DOJ, alleging she was fired because of her perceived political beliefs or because her father, a foe of President Donald Trump, was the target of the president's ire. The ruling, which sharply rebukes the DOJ, adds to concerns regarding politically motivated firings within the department.
Following the determination that the Trump administration acted illegally, the judge ordered that Comey be retroactively reinstated to her job as an assistant United States attorney.