MWE Correspondent
Department of Justice, federal prosecutor Maurene Comey has been removed from her post in the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, played a major role in high-profile cases involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and most recently, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The DOJ has not publicly explained the reason behind Comey’s dismissal, but sources familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News that her employment was abruptly terminated earlier this week.
Maurene Comey had established a strong reputation in the federal legal system, especially after leading the successful prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for aiding Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls. Her name also surfaced prominently in the ongoing investigations involving Sean Combs, who has faced multiple civil and criminal allegations related to sex trafficking and abuse in recent years.
Comey was seen by many as a steady hand inside SDNY, one of the most powerful federal jurisdictions in the United States, known for handling sensitive and complex cases involving political figures, celebrities, and international finance (learn more about SDNY).
Maurene Comey’s firing is already stirring political speculation due to her family ties. Her father, James Comey, was famously fired by then-President Donald Trump in 2017 during the height of the FBI’s Russia investigation. That move led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Now, with Maurene’s sudden dismissal, critics are questioning whether this was purely a bureaucratic decision—or something more political. The official notice cited Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the executive branch authority to terminate federal employees, but offered no further detail.
The timing of her exit is drawing particular attention. It comes just weeks after renewed scrutiny around previously sealed documents related to the Epstein case and while several lawsuits against Sean Combs remain active. Some legal observers believe Comey’s ongoing involvement in such high-profile matters made her a political target.
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Additionally, sources say tensions had been mounting inside the DOJ about how much transparency the department would allow regarding Epstein’s alleged “client network.” The department has previously denied the existence of a so-called “list,” leading to frustration among the public and some lawmakers.
Comey’s departure is also prompting broader concerns about the independence of federal prosecutors, especially those assigned to politically sensitive or high-stakes cases. Her dismissal follows a pattern seen in other branches of the DOJ, where prosecutors connected to former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Trump, have also faced job insecurity in recent months.
Her supporters argue that Comey’s record should speak for itself: a dedicated public servant who spent nearly a decade pursuing justice in some of the country’s most complex criminal cases.
At the moment, the DOJ has not named a replacement, and Maurene Comey has not issued a public statement. The SDNY has also remained silent on her departure.
Legal analysts say her exit could impact the pace or direction of some of the pending cases she was involved in—though most federal investigations are structured to continue regardless of personnel changes.
Whether her firing is merely administrative or politically motivated remains unclear, but one thing is certain: it has sent shockwaves through legal and political circles alike.
