Maurene Comey, a prominent federal prosecutor known for her work on the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking cases, has been abruptly fired from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Comey is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey.
The reason for her dismissal remains unclear. Neither Comey nor officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office have offered public comment. Comey did not respond to requests for comment via phone or email.
Comey had served in the Manhattan office for nearly 10 years and held the title of Senior Trial Counsel. She gained national recognition for her work prosecuting Epstein in 2019 before his death in jail while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors. She also helped secure the conviction of Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison and is currently appealing.
At the time of her firing, Comey was part of the federal prosecution team handling the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy case against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. That case ended without a conviction on the most serious charges.
Her firing adds to growing turmoil within the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, which has recently seen a series of resignations and internal disputes. Earlier this year, several prosecutors, including the acting U.S. attorney, stepped down after the DOJ instructed the office to drop a high-profile corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Notably, Comey’s termination did not originate from the Manhattan office itself. According to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, the firing came from higher up in the Justice Department—suggesting the decision may have been politically motivated. Interim U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, who currently leads the office, was reportedly not involved in the decision.
Her firing comes amid renewed political scrutiny surrounding Epstein-related investigations. In recent weeks, President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have faced sharp criticism for refusing to release additional documents related to Epstein’s case. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, a vocal Trump supporter, had publicly called for Comey’s dismissal in May, accusing her of protecting powerful figures allegedly connected to Epstein. Loomer’s campaign has amplified demands from the MAGA base to unseal remaining Epstein files.
Adding to the intrigue, James Comey—Maurene’s father and a frequent Trump critic—is reportedly under investigation by the Trump administration. The inquiry is said to focus on his role in the FBI’s Russia probe and a recent Instagram post that some Trump allies interpreted as a veiled threat.
On Wednesday evening, dozens of her colleagues at the Southern District of New York reportedly escorted her out of the courthouse in a quiet show of solidarity, according to an individual present during the moment.
The DOJ has yet to release any official statement explaining the termination. The silence, paired with the political overtones of the situation, has fueled speculation about the motivations behind the dismissal of one of the department’s most high-profile prosecutors.
