On a Monday in late October, a federal judge in New York drew a line that the Justice Department was not allowed to cross: the dismissal of prosecutor Maurene Comey was unlawful, and she must be restored to her post with pay owed for the months she was away. It is a moment where the power to remove public servants meets the older principle that such power carries limits, and that a person's family ties and perceived beliefs cannot be the hidden reason for ending a career. The matter now moves toward appeal, and it sits beside a wider story in which her father, James Comey, faces his own contes
Judge Rules Trump Administration Illegally Fired Prosecutor Maurene Comey, Daughter of James Comey
Maurene Comey lost her job as a federal prosecutor in July 2025 and was without pay until she took a new job in December 2025.
The attorney general can fire prosecutors, but only for certain reasons.
Mark
So what exactly did the judge decide?
Mimi
That the firing was illegal. Judge Furman said it violated the Constitution and her right to fair legal process, and he ordered reinstatement plus back pay for July to December 2025.
Mark
Why does the back pay stop in December?
Mimi
That's when she accepted a new job. The ruling covers the gap when she had no pay.
Luke
Worth being clear about what's established. The judge ruled the firing unlawful. Whether her father was the actual motive is her side's claim, and the reporting doesn't show the administration admitting it.
Mark
Did the government give a reason?
Mimi
Only that the decision was made by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to court filings. Comey said she was told it came from Washington.
Luke
And the source doesn't say what reason Bondi gave. That's a gap.
Mark
Furman acknowledged the attorney general can fire prosecutors, though.
Mimi
Yes, but only in a particular manner and for certain reasons. He also pointed to her record on cases like Epstein, Maxwell and Combs.
Luke
That record shows she was well regarded. It doesn't by itself prove why she was let go.
Mark
What happens now?
Mimi
The Justice Department says it will appeal, so reinstatement could still be contested.
El Pulso
- A federal judge has ruled that the Justice Department illegally fired prosecutor Maurene Comey, and the finding lands as a direct rebuke to the administration.
- Comey says she was dismissed because she is the daughter of Trump critic James Comey or because of political views attributed to her, a claim that turns a personnel decision into a constitutional fight.
- Judge Jesse Furman ordered her reinstated with back pay covering July to December 2025, when she took another job, while noting the attorney general's power to dismiss prosecutors must be used lawfully.
- The Justice Department says it disagrees and will appeal, so the outcome remains open and her return to her old post is not yet settled.
On a Monday in late October, a federal judge in New York drew a line that the Justice Department was not allowed to cross: the dismissal of prosecutor Maurene Comey was unlawful, and she must be restored to her post with pay owed for the months she was away. It is a moment where the power to remove public servants meets the older principle that such power carries limits, and that a person's family ties and perceived beliefs cannot be the hidden reason for ending a career. The matter now moves toward appeal, and it sits beside a wider story in which her father, James Comey, faces his own contested charges.
On Monday, a federal judge in New York ruled that the US Justice Department broke the law when it fired Maurene Comey, a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. Judge Jesse Furman ordered that she be reinstated and paid the wages she lost.
Comey was dismissed in July 2025. She argued that she was removed because she is the daughter of James Comey, the former FBI director and a critic of President Trump, or because of political views attributed to her. She has said the only reason she was given was that the decision "came from Washington."
Furman found that the firing violated the Constitution and her right to fair legal process. He acknowledged that the attorney general may dismiss federal prosecutors, but wrote that this power may be used only in a particular manner and for certain reasons. He also pointed to her record, which included some of the highest-profile cases in the country, including those against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
The Justice Department said the decision was made by former Attorney General Pam Bondi. A department spokesperson said it disagrees and will appeal. Comey's lawyers called the ruling a hard-earned victory for her, for civil servants, and for the rule of law.
The case unfolds alongside her father's legal troubles. His first charge was dismissed after a judge found the prosecutor had been unlawfully appointed, and he now faces a charge of threatening the president over a seashell post, which he denies. The appeal ahead will decide whether Maurene Comey returns to her post.
On Monday, a federal judge in New York ruled that the US Justice Department broke the law when it fired Maurene Comey, a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. Judge Jesse Furman ordered the Trump administration to reinstate her and to pay her back wages.
Comey lost her job in July 2025. She sued, arguing she was dismissed because she is the daughter of James Comey, the former FBI director and a critic of President Donald Trump, and because of political views attributed to her. Her lawyers' complaint, filed in September 2025, said they believed she was fired "solely or substantially" because of her father, or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both. Comey has said the only explanation she was given was that the decision "came from Washington."
Furman found that the firing violated the US Constitution and her right to a fair legal process. He did not dispute that the attorney general has the power to dismiss federal prosecutors. But he wrote that this power can be used only "in a particular manner and only for certain reasons." The judge also noted her record, writing that she was assigned some of the country's highest-profile cases and consistently received the highest praise from supervisors and peers.
Those cases include the prosecutions of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. She also worked on the case against hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was convicted last year on prostitution-related charges involving two ex-girlfriends.
The back pay covers the period from July to December 2025, when Comey accepted a new job. In court filings, the Justice Department said the decision to fire her was made by former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
A department spokesperson said it disagrees with the ruling and "will appeal in due course." Comey's lawyers called the outcome a "hard-earned victory" that belongs to Comey, to all civil servants, and to all fighting for the rule of law.
The ruling arrives while her father is under legal pressure of his own. The Trump administration has twice brought charges against James Comey. The first, which accused him of lying to Congress, was dismissed by a judge who said the prosecutor who brought it had been unlawfully appointed. Earlier this year, the department charged him with knowingly and wilfully threatening to kill or inflict bodily harm on the president. That case stems from a 2025 Instagram post showing seashells on a beach arranged to read "86 47." "Eighty-six" is slang for "get rid of," and prosecutors allege the post encourages violence against Trump. James Comey has denied any wrongdoing.
The next step is the promised appeal, which could keep the dispute going and leave open whether Maurene Comey actually returns to her old post.
Citas Notables
This hard-earned victory belongs to Ms Comey, to all civil servants, and to all fighting for the rule of law.— Maurene Comey's lawyers
The department disagrees with the decision and will appeal in due course.— Justice Department spokesperson
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en BBC News ↗
Politics & Governance