Former Southern District of New York prosecutor Maurene Comey has filed a lawsuit alleging her removal from the U.S. Attorney\u2019s office was \u201cunlawful and unconstitutional\u201d \u2014 and claims it likely happened because of who her father is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comey, who is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was fired in July by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The younger Comey had worked on several high-profile prosecutions, including those of Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs, disgraced gynecologist Robert Hadden, and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her lawsuit, Comey argues that she was dismissed \u201cfor no reason,\u201d and calls the termination politically motivated. \u201cThe politically motivated termination of Ms. Comey \u2014 ostensibly under \u2018Article II of the Constitution\u2019 \u2014 upends bedrock principles of our democracy and justice system,\u201d the lawsuit reads, according to the Times<\/em>. \u201cAssistant United States attorneys like Ms. Comey must do their jobs without fearing or favoring any political party or perspective, guided solely by the law, the facts and the pursuit of justice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suit names the \u201cOffice of the President,\u201d Bondi, and other officials as defendants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comey\u2019s claim that her firing was rooted in partisan politics comes against the backdrop of her family\u2019s history. Her father, James Comey, was fired as FBI Director by Donald Trump in 2017 after a series of controversies over his handling of the Clinton email investigation and the Russia probe. Critics say her lawsuit now risks framing any legitimate personnel decision as political retaliation simply because of her last name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and longtime Trump ally, has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. Supporters of the administration argue that the president has constitutional authority to remove U.S. Attorneys at will \u2014 a power that has been upheld across multiple administrations. While career federal prosecutors are expected to be insulated from political pressure, they ultimately serve at the pleasure of the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a sharp farewell note to colleagues, Comey appeared to aim barbs at Trump and Bondi. \u201cFear is the tool of a tyrant,\u201d she wrote in a message obtained by Politico<\/em>. \u201cIf a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain. Do not let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have entered a new phase where \u2018without fear\u2019 may be the challenge,\u201d she continued, referencing the office\u2019s longtime motto of impartiality, and urging prosecutors to hold fast. \u201cLet this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place\u2026 Of commitment to seek justice for victims. Of dedication to truth above all else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPolitics, Legacy, and Accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Comey\u2019s Farewell Message Warned of \u201cFear\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n