Judge Rules DOJ Illegally Fired Comey's Daughter

Source reports published 26 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 27 Oct 2026, 3:58 am AEST

A US judge ruled that the Trump Justice Department illegally fired Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, due to her father's criticism of President Trump. The ruling upheld her claim that the firing violated constitutional protections and federal law.

What happened

• A New York federal judge, Jesse Furman, ruled that the Justice Department unlawfully fired Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, in July 2025.
• Comey, a federal prosecutor for a decade working on cases against figures like Sean "Diddy", Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, sued the Justice Department alleging the firing was politically motivated due to her father’s criticism of President Trump.
• Judge Furman stated that the Justice Department "invented a new and expansive theory of executive power" and violated Comey’s constitutional right to due process.
• The ruling was supported by the assertion that the Trump administration sought to remove federal prosecutors seen as out of step with the president’s priorities.
• Critics argued the firing was part of a pattern of retribution against perceived enemies.
• The judge also rejected the government’s claim that federal prosecutors exercise the president’s “conclusive and preclusive” powers, upholding long-settled case law allowing Congress to regulate the removal of inferior officers.
• The ruling was described as a "hard-earned victory" for Comey and all civil servants.

Original reporting

• NPR: Judge says DOJ illegally fired the daughter of former FBI director Comey
  2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00
• Al Jazeera: US court rules daughter of Trump critic James Comey was illegally fired
  2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00
• PBS NewsHour: Trump DOJ illegally fired ex-FBI director's daughter, Maurene Comey, as a federal prosecutor, judge rules
  2026-10-26T17:11:17+00:00
• CBS News: Maurene Comey, James Comey's daughter, was unlawfully fired, judge rules
  2026-10-26T16:03:00+00:00
• Washington Examiner: Judge rules Maurene Comey's firing by Trump admin was illegal
  2026-10-26T16:48:48+00:00
• South China Morning Post: Daughter of ex-FBI director Comey was unlawfully fired as federal prosecutor, judge rules
  2026-10-26T17:58:23+00:00