Federal judge orders Trump administration to reinstate former New York prosecutor Maurene Comey
A U.S. district judge ruled that the Justice Department illegally terminated Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey, and ordered her reinstatement with back pay.
A federal judge on Monday ordered the Justice Department to reinstate Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor in New York, and to pay her back wages for the period she was dismissed. Judge Jesse Furman found that her termination in July 2025 violated constitutional protections and the statutory limits on how U.S. attorneys general may remove prosecutors.
Comey, who is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, sued the government alleging that her firing was motivated by her father's criticism of President Donald Trump and by perceived political affiliations. The judge noted her record on high-profile cases, including prosecutions related to Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The Justice Department said it disagreed with the ruling and will appeal. In response, Comey's attorneys said the decision affirms the rule of law for civil servants. The court ordered back pay from July through December 2025, when Comey accepted a new position.