Justice Department moves to dismiss Maurene Comey's lawsuit regarding her termination

The U.S. Justice Department has announced plans to dismiss a lawsuit filed by former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, claiming that she did not adhere to the required administrative complaint procedures before initiating legal action. The department outlined its arguments in court documents submitted Monday ahead of a Thursday hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Maurene Comey, who previously handled prominent criminal cases involving Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, filed a lawsuit in September against the Trump administration after her dismissal in July. She alleged that her termination was both "unlawful and unconstitutional."

Her attorneys contended that the firing was politically motivated and exceeded the presidents authority. Maurene Comey is also the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, who had a well-publicized conflict with President Trump. In 2017, President Trump dismissed James Comey during the FBI's investigation into potential links between Trump associates and Russia.

In a separate legal matter, James Comey faced indictment in September on two counts related to his 2020 congressional testimony. He pleaded not guilty, and a federal judge recently dismissed the charges, citing the unlawful appointment of interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan, who had secured the indictment. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Justice Department plans to pursue all legal options, including an immediate appeal.

The Justice Department, in a joint letter to Judge Jesse M. Furman, argued that Maurene Comeys lawsuit was improperly filed because she did not fully comply with procedures requiring the Merit Systems Protection Board to review her claim first. The department rejected claims that filing with the board in August would have been futile, asserting that the board is the appropriate venue to determine whether her removal was prohibited or arbitrary.

Maurene Comeys legal team countered that the board lacks the expertise to resolve this unique constitutional dispute and questioned its independence from the president. They argued that the case involves fundamental separation-of-powers issues that the board cannot address.

Prior to her dismissal, Comey served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Manhattans high-profile office, where she had been since 2015. Her lawsuit notes that she was fired just one day after being asked to lead a major public corruption case, despite having recently received an "outstanding" performance review.

U.S. Attorney John Sarcone in Albany has taken over the defense of the Trump administration in this case following the recusal of Manhattan prosecutors. Maurene Comey had previously secured convictions in significant cases, including the sex trafficking conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell, and bribery convictions of former Senator Bob Menendez and his wife.

Just two weeks before Comeys termination, a jury convicted Sean Combs of charges related to prostitution while acquitting him of more severe sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. Comey had led the prosecution team. Combs, 56, is scheduled for release from prison in June 2028.

Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, was convicted in December 2021 on sex trafficking charges for her role in aiding Jeffrey Epsteins abuse of minors. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting his own sex trafficking trial. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence at a Texas prison camp, having been transferred from Florida last summer. Robert Menendez, 71, is imprisoned in Pennsylvania and scheduled for release in September 2034.

Author: Sophia Brooks