James Comey Breaks Silence After DOJ Fires Daughter: 'Grave Danger'

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
James Comey has warned of a "grave danger" in maintaining trust in federal prosecuting after the Department of Justice (DOJ) fired his daughter, Maurene Comey, from her job as prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
Speaking in a video posted on Substack on Sunday, the former FBI director reacted to his daughter losing her job last week and accused President Donald Trump of "hammering" at the department.
Why It Matters
Maurene Comey most recently led the prosecution of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and also held a role in the cases against the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation James Comey speaks at Harvard University's Institute of Politics' JFK Jr. Forum in Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 24, 2020.
Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation James Comey speaks at Harvard University's Institute of Politics' JFK Jr. Forum in Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 24, 2020.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File
The DOJ did not give a reason as to why she had been fired. The timing of her dismissal, amid ongoing fallout and suspicion swirling over the handling of the Epstein investigation has intensified an already politically charged atmosphere in the country.
Initially, the White House had ordered a review of the case and said it would publish names and evidence about Epstein's associates. However, a recent memo from the Department of Justice and the FBI said there was no "client list" and that no further charges would be brought.
What To Know
James Comey said there was a "reservoir of trust and credibility" in the DOJ but that this was at risk because of the department's recent actions.
He read out a letter his daughter wrote reacting to her firing and said: "I don't have much to add to that, except to say: the reservoir is in grave danger right now."
He added: "Trump and the hacks who lead the Department of Justice are hammering at the dam day after day, trying to turn it into just another gold-leaf-covered Trump subsidiary.
"Our best hope is that good people will stay and do what Maureen asked—have the courage to do the right thing, always. You may get fired for acting that way, but there's honor in that—and nothing but disgrace for those who don't stand up."
James Comey was appointed FBI director in 2013 by then President Barack Obama. He played a pivotal role in the 2016 presidential election by reopening an investigation into Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server for official business, shortly before Election Day. Trump fired Comey in 2017, citing his handling of the investigation.
That decision led to critics arguing that his motive may have been linked to the FBI's investigation into potential collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.
In 2019, the report by special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence that the Trump campaign criminally conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election.
In May 2025, James Comey was interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service regarding a an Instagram post that drew accusations of inciting violence against the president.
The post featured a photo of seashells arranged to form the number "8647," which some interpreted as a veiled threat—"86" being slang for "eliminate" and "47" referencing Trump as the 47th U.S. president. Comey deleted the post and said he had no intention of promoting violence, explaining that he was unaware of the potential connotation.
What People Are Saying
In a letter to her colleagues after she was fired on Wednesday, Maurene Comey wrote: "If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain. Do not let that happen. Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought."
In an MSNBC interview, Democratic California Senator Adam Schiff said Maurene Comey had been fired to shift the blame over the Epstein files conspiracies. "They created these conspiracy theories," he said. "They fed these conspiracy theories."
Speaking on CNN, former Barack Obama adviser Van Jones said Maurene Comey's was "the head that just rolled."
When asked about whether Trump or the White House had any knowledge of the firing during Thursday's press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "This was a decision that was made by the Department of Justice."
What Happens Next
It is not yet known who will replace Maurene Comey. Several members of Congress have said they would continue pressing for transparency about the Epstein files.