Manhattan Judge Allows Maurene Comey's Lawsuit Against Trump Administration to Proceed

Former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey filed a lawsuit alleging her July 2025 termination was driven by President Donald Trump’s hostility toward her father, former FBI Director James B. Comey, or by her perceived political affiliation. On Tuesday, a Manhattan federal judge ruled the suit may move forward in court.

New York Times

Maurene Comey, a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, prosecuted high-profile cases including Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sean Combs, and supervised the bribery prosecution of former Senator Robert Menendez. She is the daughter of James B. Comey, the former FBI director who publicly clashed with President Trump.

New York Times

• July 2025 – Maurene Comey’s abrupt dismissal from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

New York Times

• Early 2026 – Comey files a federal lawsuit alleging politically motivated termination.

New York Times

• Tuesday, April 2026 – Judge Furman denies the administration’s motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed.

New York Times

• April 28 2026 – The New York Times reports the ruling.

New York Times

The Trump administration argued the claim should first be heard by the Merit Systems Protection Board, asserting that the board is the proper venue for federal employment grievances. Judge Furman rejected that view, stating Comey’s allegation falls “outside the universe of cases” Congress assigned to the MSPB, granting the district court jurisdiction.

New York Times

The decision could shape how federal employees pursue claims of political retaliation, potentially expanding judicial review beyond the MSPB’s traditional scope. It also tests the limits of executive influence over career civil servants and may set precedent for future disputes involving alleged partisan dismissals.

New York Times

The administration’s brief filing urged dismissal, emphasizing procedural requirements before court action. Judge Furman’s written order highlighted the statutory boundary of the MSPB’s authority but stopped short of addressing the substantive merits of Comey’s retaliation claim.

New York Times

Legal scholars cited by the administration contend that allowing the suit to bypass the MSPB undermines the board’s expertise and could flood courts with employment disputes. The administration maintains that the procedural route safeguards impartial adjudication.

New York Times

• “outside the universe of cases” — Judge Jesse M. Furman, ruling.

New York Times

The lawsuit will advance through the federal district court, where factual and legal arguments will be examined. Both parties may appeal the jurisdictional ruling, and the case could influence future litigation on political retaliation in the federal workforce.

New York Times