- Maurene Comey, who had been involved with prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, was fired in July 2025.
- Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the firing was unlawful, rejecting the DOJ's arguments that then-Attorney General Pam Bondi could remove a federal prosecutor 'at will' and without cause.
- The judge ordered that Comey be retroactively reinstated to her job as an assistant United States attorney and receive back pay.
- Furman stated the DOJ's Article II argument sought to overturn nearly two decades of Supreme Court precedent.
A federal judge ruled on Monday that the Department of Justice's firing of Maurene Comey was unlawful. Judge Jesse Furman ordered her retroactive reinstatement and back pay, emphasizing that the DOJ's claims of at-will removal by the Attorney General were unfounded.12345
Comey, who played a significant role in prosecuting Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was dismissed in July 2025. Furman stated that the DOJ's arguments contradicted nearly two decades of Supreme Court precedent, asserting, "This Court, however, is bound to follow the Supreme Court's precedents unless and until the Supreme Court overturns them."67
The ruling highlights the limitations of the Attorney General's power to dismiss federal prosecutors without cause, reinforcing the protections afforded to such positions under the Civil Service Reform Act. Furman rejected the DOJ's assertion that the firing was justified to promote efficiency, stating that it lacked legal grounding.
This decision not only reinstates Comey but also sets a significant precedent regarding the independence of federal prosecutors and the constraints on executive power in personnel matters.
The ruling is a notable victory for Comey, who is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, and underscores the judiciary's role in upholding legal standards against executive overreach.
“U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman rejected the DOJ's arguments, including that then-Attorney General Pam Bondi could fire Comey 'at will' and that current AG Todd Blanche could ratify the act. The ruling also rejects the DOJ's Article II rationale, which sought to overturn nearly two decades of Supreme Court precedent.”
CNBC
