FOX NEWS: David Gelman Provides Legal Commentary on Maurene Comey Firing
Maurene Comey, a longtime prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, was fired by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on July 16, 2025. Comey was the prosecuting attorney in two highly publicized cases, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jeffrey Epstein. Her firing has received mixed reactions from legal analysts. Former prosecutor and founder of Gelman Law, David Gelman, recently spoke with FOX News to give his take on Comey’s ousting.
Comey’s Involvement in Epstein and Diddy Cases
Maurene Comey has been involved in some of the most high-profile cases in recent years. Most recently, she, along with five other federal prosecutors, served as the prosecutor in the case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Combs was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking in early July 2025 after a months-long trial that began in May.
Though he was found not guilty of the most serious charges against him, Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Comey also served in another high-profile case: Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The disgraced finance mogul was accused of sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of underage girls in exchange for money. Not only did he allegedly have staff and associates continue to recruit girls, but he paid his victims to recruit other victims, as well.
If convicted, Epstein faced 40 years in prison for sex trafficking of minors and five years for one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. Before the trial was to start, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell on August 10, 2019. Comey, however, served as prosecutor on the Ghislaine Maxwell case, securing her conviction for her involvement with Epstein. Maxwell was convicted of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking conspiracy, and sex trafficking of a minor (among other charges) and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
In recent weeks, controversy over the Epstein list has taken center stage. As of publication, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced plans to ask a federal judge to unseal grand jury documents related to the case. Before her firing, Comey argued against unsealing certain court documents, sparking criticism.
Comey’s Firing and Gelman’s Legal Commentary
“There didn’t need to be any reason for her firing,” David Gelman told FOX News. Though the DOJ hasn’t confirmed the reasoning behind it, there is, of course, speculation that it has to do with the tense relationship Comey’s father, James Comey, shared with President Donald Trump.
James Comey, who was the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) until 2017, is most well-known for his inquiries into the possibility of Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential election. According to FOX News, the Department of Justice recently confirmed that they received a referral from Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, that claims Obama-era officials “manufactured and politicized intelligence” to create a narrative that Russia was trying to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
According to Gelman, Comey’s firing could have been related to job performance, “…which would be warranted because the Diddy trial was an absolute mess, and she was the head of it.” He also brought up the possibility of her having been previously fired, but the DOJ let her stay on to try the Diddy case due to the resources spent on it. “It won’t surprise me whatsoever if she goes to the anti-Trump shows and bashes the DOJ and administration,” he told FOX News. “That’s the playbook for her family.”
About David Gelman
Criminal defense attorney David Gelman is a former prosecutor with years of experience on both sides of the courtroom. Media outlets routinely seek him out for his unique perspective on the most high-profile cases, including Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislane Maxwell, and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
His prosecutorial experience lets him anticipate moves before they happen, giving readers and listeners an insider’s glimpse into how criminal cases may unfold. Check back or follow David Gelman on social media for future media appearances and commentary on Maurene Comey and what this may mean for the future, particularly in high-profile cases tried in New York.
Read the full article here: Maurene Comey fired from Trump DOJ after she ‘failed’ in two major cases, expert says: ‘Absolute mess’
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Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.