Maurene Comey Fired From U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan
NEW YORK — Maurene Comey, a longtime federal prosecutor who worked on the high-profile criminal cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was abruptly dismissed Wednesday, raising questions about the move’s timing and motivation.
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Comey received a formal termination letter citing presidential authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment, and neither the White House nor the Justice Department immediately responded to requests for explanation.
Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, had served as a lead prosecutor in both the Epstein and Maxwell prosecutions. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in sexually exploiting underage victims alongside Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019.
Timing Tied to Epstein Controversy
The firing comes as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure from within its own base over its refusal to release files related to Epstein’s activities. Earlier this month, the Justice Department released a memo confirming no client list exists and reiterating that Epstein’s death was a suicide — statements that have fueled dissent and conspiracy theories among the president’s supporters.
President Trump has publicly dismissed the interest in Epstein as a “hoax” and suggested that information in the case was fabricated by political opponents, including Comey’s father and former presidents Biden and Obama.
While no official link has been made between Comey’s dismissal and her role in the Epstein cases, observers note that she had previously argued in court against releasing certain investigative records to protect victims and witnesses, as is common practice in sensitive cases.
Part of a Pattern of High-Profile Removals
The sudden removal of a veteran prosecutor is notable but follows a broader pattern of departures under the Trump administration, which has exerted increasingly direct control over the Justice Department. Comey’s firing is the highest-profile ouster from the Manhattan office since earlier this year, when federal prosecutors resigned over the administration’s decision to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Comey reportedly informed close colleagues of her dismissal on Wednesday in an impromptu meeting. She could not be reached for comment.
In addition to her work on the Epstein and Maxwell cases, Comey also prosecuted the recent trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was acquitted of major charges earlier this month.
Background on Comey’s Role
Comey had previously filed a declaration in a Freedom of Information Act case, warning that releasing certain documents about Epstein could harm the government’s ability to retry Maxwell, while also exposing witnesses to harassment. That argument was accepted by the court at the time.
Her firing, though unexplained, has intensified speculation about whether the administration seeks to shift blame over the handling of the Epstein scandal or to deflect criticism from the president.
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