The Department of Justice may have aimed to contain fallout—but instead may have handed its adversaries a powerful new weapon.
On July 16, 2025, the DOJ abruptly fired Maurene Comey, a lead federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York. She had prosecuted high-profile cases involving Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, and Sean “Diddy” Combs. She’s also the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey—a longtime target of Donald Trump.
The firing was done under Article II presidential authority, with no reason given. Legal experts called the decision “highly unusual and unprecedented,” warning it undermines civil service protections and DOJ independence.
In her farewell message to colleagues, Comey struck a defiant tone. She warned: “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.”
“Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire … A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for victims. Of dedication to truth above all else.”
Now, a former federal prosecutor says the move may end up hurting Trump more than helping him.
Glenn Kirschner, appearing on No Lies with Brian Tyler Cohen, said the DOJ might’ve made a serious miscalculation by sidelining Comey.
Cohen asked: “Didn’t they kind of unleash Maurene Comey to speak freely as long as it’s not anything contained in grand jury testimony?”
Kirschner responded bluntly: “They did, and it was not a wise move.”
He explained that while prosecutors can’t legally reveal grand jury material, everything else Comey knows is fair game. That could include sensitive or damaging information about Trump’s ties to Epstein.
“The question is: Is Maurene Comey the kind of person who is going to be comfortable stepping into the public light and begin to talk about this?” Kirschner said.
And if she does speak, Trump won’t take it lightly.
“We know that Donald Trump will try to retaliate against her,” Kirschner warned. “The way he has retaliated against her father by directing that he be criminally investigated when there’s no evidence he committed any crimes.”
Comey hasn’t said whether she plans to go public. But now that she’s outside DOJ control, that option is entirely hers.
And this isn’t a one-off.
Since Attorney General Pam Bondi took over, the DOJ has fired more than 40 career prosecutors—many tied to January 6 cases, Trump investigations, or special counsel work. Few were given any formal cause.
Critics say it’s a purge—driven by politics, not performance.
Even before her firing, pro-Trump voices had called for Comey’s removal. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer demanded she be fired over her role in the Epstein and Diddy cases, and because she’s James Comey’s daughter. Bondi’s decision appeared to follow those calls.
Whether intentional or not, the DOJ may have created a problem it can’t control. Maurene Comey has been pushed out—but now she’s free to speak. And if she chooses to, it could be a major headache for Trump.
Watch Kirschner’s commentary in the video below.
