Federal judge orders Trump administration to reinstate Maurene Comey, pay back salary.

A federal judge in Manhattan ordered the Trump administration to reinstate Maurene Comey, a former U.S. attorney in New York, and to pay her back salary after ruling on Monday that her July 2025 dismissal was illegal. Judge Jesse Furman said the firing violated the Constitution and the due‑process rights of a federal prosecutor. The decision comes after Comey sued the Justice Department, claiming she was let go because of her father, former FBI director James B. Comey, and because of her perceived political affiliations.

Comey’s lawsuit alleged that the Justice Department, under former Attorney General Pam Bondi, terminated her without proper cause. She had been a high‑profile prosecutor, handling cases against Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. Her lawyers argued that the only explanation given for her removal was that it “came from Washington,” suggesting a politically motivated motive. The judge agreed, noting that while an attorney general can fire federal prosecutors, the action must follow specific procedures and be for legitimate reasons, none of which were shown in Comey’s case.

In his ruling, Furman highlighted that Comey consistently earned top accolades from supervisors and peers. He ordered the government to pay her back wages from July through December 2025, when she took a new job. The Justice Department said it disagreed with the judgment and will appeal. Comey’s attorneys hailed the decision as a victory for civil servants and the rule of law. The case adds to a string of legal battles involving the Comey family, including previous charges against James Comey that were dismissed for procedural flaws.

The reinstatement order could set a precedent for how political considerations are weighed in federal employment decisions. If the Justice Department’s appeal succeeds, it may reinforce the administration’s authority to remove prosecutors. If the ruling stands, it could curb politically motivated dismissals and reinforce protections for career civil servants. The outcome will likely be watched closely by both legal scholars and political observers.