Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor concerned in the Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean Combs cases, has sued the Trump administration over her firing this summer season, levying one other authorized problem to the Justice Department’s therapy of profession officers.
Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court docket in Manhattan that she was not given any clarification for her termination and says it was achieved in retaliation for being her father’s daughter.
“Ms. Comey’s termination – without cause, without advance notice, and without any opportunity to contest it – was unlawful and unconstitutional,” based on the lawsuit. “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 lawsuit alleges.
Comey is one of a number of federal civil servants fired by the Trump administration who’ve filed lawsuits to reinstate their positions or search pay in a problem to the administration’s sweeping removing of FBI brokers and different federal prosecutors with out discover or conforming to authorized procedures.
The Justice Department and US Attorney’s workplace for the Southern District of New York declined to remark.
Comey was notified by electronic mail simply earlier than 5 p.m. on July 16 that she had been faraway from her place “pursuant to Article II of the United States Constitution,” based on the lawsuit.
She stated no purpose was given for her termination following a close to decade of constructive efficiency critiques and promotions.
Jay Clayton, the US lawyer for the Southern District of New York, instructed Comey, based on the lawsuit, “All I can say is it came from Washington. I can’t tell you anything else.”
At the time of her firing NCS reported an individual accustomed to the scenario stated being a Comey is untenable in this administration given her father James Comey is “constantly going after the administration.”
Comey joined the US lawyer’s workplace in November 2015 and rose by way of the ranks changing into chiefs of a number of models, however finally requested to rejoin her colleagues so she may get again into the courtroom.
Her closing trial was the prosecution of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was convicted in July of two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution. He was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of intercourse trafficking. She led the questioning of a number of key witnesses, together with of Combs’ former girlfriend who testified beneath the pseudonym Jane.
In addition to investigating and prosecuting Epstein and Maxwell, Comey additionally prosecuted gynecologist Robert Hadden for sexually abusing patients.
Comey was fired the day after she was requested to take the lead on a “major public corruption case,” based on her lawsuit.