By Allan Lengel
As expected, the Trump administration’s sudden firings of federal prosecutors and FBI agents are producing lawsuits.
The latest: Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Comey, daughter of fired FBI Director James Comey, is suing the Trump administration—including Attorney General Pam Bondi—over her July 16 firing. Comey was a prosecutor in the cases against Jeffrey Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Her 39-page lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, states that Comey was “an exemplary, dedicated, and highly decorated public servant,” and that her firing—”without cause, without advance notice, and without any opportunity to contest it”—was unlawful and unconstitutional.
“Defendants have not provided any explanation whatsoever for terminating Ms. Comey,” the suit alleges. “In truth, there is no legitimate explanation. Rather, defendants fired Ms. Comey solely or substantially because her father is former FBI Director James B. Comey, or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both.”
The suit claims she has suffered adverse and harmful effects from the firing, including loss of future income and reputational harm. She is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and other available damages.
In May 2025, the suit states, James Comey posted a message on social media that President Trump and others in the Trump administration interpreted as threatening. It showed a photo of seashells arranged to spell out “8647.” The number 86 is interpreted by some to mean “kill” or “get rid of,” and 47 was interpreted to represent Trump, the 47th president. Comey denied that it meant anything violent and was questioned by the U.S. Secret Service.
Following that and other critical statements, she was fired, the suit says, also noting that Trump ally Laura Loomer publicly pushed for her termination.
The Justice Department declined a request to comment to ticklethewire.com.
A Harvard Law School graduate, Maureen Comey worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York from November 16, 2015, until July 16, 2025.
The suit states that her job performance was exemplary. She personally handled 11 criminal trials resulting in more than 200 convictions, briefed and argued multiple appeals before the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and supervised numerous additional federal investigations, trials, and convictions.
“Her performance consistently earned her accolades and promotions, as well as ‘Outstanding’ ratings in her annual reviews, along with glowing commentary—including, for example: Ms. Comey ‘is highly respected and is a leader in the office. She is a brilliant lawyer and a gifted supervisor,’ and ‘is the lawyer the office turns to when legal excellence is a must.'”
The suit went on to cite other evaluations, stating that Comey has “handled the highest-profile cases in the office because her judgment, work product, and courtroom advocacy are among the finest in the country.”
She was part of the team that conducted grand jury proceedings and secured an indictment against Jeffrey Epstein for sex trafficking and conspiracy, and successfully opposed his bail request.
After Epstein died on August 10, 2019, the team continued the investigation and gathered evidence that led to the indictment of Ghislaine Maxwell.
In February 2021, she was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit. She was promoted again in June 2021 to Co-Chief of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit, and once more in January 2023 to Co-Chief of the Public Corruption Unit.
Read the lawsuit
