Judge: Trump DOJ illegally fired ex-FBI director’s daughter, Maurene Comey, as a federal prosecutor

As a Justice Department prosecutor, a judge ruled Monday, sharply rebuking the administration's authority to terminate career federal employees it dislikes, NEW YORK (AP) – The Trump administration illegally fired Maurene Comey, the daughter of ex-FBI Director and Trump critic James Comey.

What happened

In practice, the ruling is tailored to Maurene Comey but its import stretches beyond her case, repudiating the claim of President Donald Trump's administration that the Constitution permits such firings for any reason. Administration authorities have cited that belief repeatedly in a sweeping purge of the federal workforce.

Comey, an assistant U.S. Attorney for a decade, was fired in July 2025 despite her work on some of the nation's highest-profile cases and consistently receiving "the highest accolades from supervisors and peers alike, " Judge Jesse M. Furman discovered.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around judge: Trump DOJ illegally fired ex-FBI directors daughter, Maurene Comey, as a point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.