DOJ fires prosecutor handling Jeffrey Epstein and Diddy

Maurene Comey, a veteran federal prosecutor who worked on high-profile cases involving Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sean “Diddy” Combs, has been dismissed by the US Department of Justice. The reason for dismissal is still unclear, but her exit was confirmed by sources at the BBC’s US partner, CBS.

Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, had served as a trial lawyer in the Justice Department’s Manhattan office since 2015. No official reason for her dismissal has been given, according to a source cited by Politico.

Her removal comes at a time when President Trump and attorney general Pam Bondi is under fire for their handling of the Epstein files. It follows the prosecution team’s failure to convict Sean Combs on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. He was found guilty of lesser offenses earlier this month.

Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted pedophile, died by suicide in a New York jail while awaiting trial in 2019. In February, Bondi indicated she would release Epstein’s client list, but last week’s reports claimed no such list exists.

Trump lashed out at supporters alleging a cover-up in the Epstein case, calling them “weaklings” and stating he no longer wanted their support. There appears to be a growing pattern of the Justice Department dismissing lawyers involved in cases the president reportedly disapproves of. According to ABC News, Trump has privately expressed discomfort with having someone from the Comey family serving in his administration.

James Comey was recently interviewed by the US Secret Service after posting a seashell photo on Instagram, which was later deleted. Federal officials alleged it to be a call for violence against Trump. An investigation was launched into the former FBI director. His remarks to Congress regarding an investigation into purported Russian attempts to sway the 2016 White House race were reportedly being examined by prosecutors. Trump did not have a criminal conspiracy with the Kremlin, according to that investigation.

Since Trump took office again in January, the agency has begun firing officials. At least 20 employees who were involved in Special Counsel Jack Smith's dual investigations into Trump's attempts to cancel his 2020 presidential loss and the purported misuse of secret papers discovered at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida were fired by Bondi last week. Several prosecutors have also been fired for charging those involved in the US Capitol riot, which occurred when Trump supporters invaded Congress.