A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully dismissed former prosecutor Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey.
12. Body
A United States federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully dismissed former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, delivering a significant legal victory to the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey.
The ruling, issued on Monday, October 26, concerns Comey's removal from the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in July 2025.
Comey spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, working on several prominent criminal cases, including the prosecutions of Ghislaine Maxwell and music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Her dismissal attracted attention because of her father's longstanding conflict with President Donald Trump, who removed James Comey as FBI director during his first administration.
Following her termination, Maurene Comey filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the decision.
She alleged that her removal was connected to her family relationship and violated federal protections against politically motivated dismissals, as well as employment due-process requirements.
The Justice Department disputed her legal arguments.
Government lawyers maintained that the president and attorney general possess constitutional authority to remove federal prosecutors without demonstrating cause because those prosecutors exercise executive powers when representing the United States in criminal proceedings.
The dispute raised questions about the employment protections available to career federal prosecutors, whose appointments ordinarily extend across changes in presidential administrations.
Monday's ruling represents a significant development in that legal disagreement.
However, the judgment should not be interpreted as confirmation that Comey has already returned to government service.
In her lawsuit, Comey sought retroactive reinstatement through December 2025, which would allow her to recover back pay and qualify for retirement benefits.
She joined the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler as a partner in February 2026.
The case has broader implications for the relationship between presidential authority and the legal protections governing career federal employees.
It also arrives amid continuing legal disputes over the administration's authority to remove officials from government positions.
The precise consequences of the ruling, including any further proceedings or appeal, will depend on subsequent court filings and decisions.
For now, the confirmed development is that a federal judge has found Comey's dismissal unlawful, marking an important stage in her challenge against the administration.
