Overview

• Maurene Comey had served as senior trial counsel in the Southern District of New York for nearly ten years before her abrupt July 16 dismissal.
• She was a lead prosecutor in the 2021 conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell and in the recent Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, which concluded with a split verdict.
• Two people familiar with the matter said the firing memo was issued directly by Main Justice and bypassed interim U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton’s office.
• Her removal follows earlier departures of SDNY officials, including Matthew Podolsky and Danielle Sassoon, as the Justice Department reshapes its leadership.
• Legal observers warn the move could undermine civil-service protections and deter career prosecutors handling politically sensitive cases.