Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey, can move forward with a lawsuit alleging she was fired by the Trump administration for political reasons, a Manhattan judge ruled Tuesday. The decision allows her challenge against the government’s dismissal of her case to proceed in federal court, bypassing the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Comey, a top trial attorney at the Southern District of New York, had prosecuted high-profile cases including Jeffrey Epstein, Sean Combs, and Ghislaine Maxwell. Her July 2025 termination drew scrutiny after she claimed no legitimate reason existed beyond retaliation tied to her father’s criticism of Trump. The administration argued her suit should first be heard by the MSPB, an agency handling federal employee disputes. Judge Jesse M. Furman disagreed, stating her claims fell outside the board’s jurisdiction.

The ruling highlights tensions between political accountability and bureaucratic processes. Comey’s lawsuit could set a precedent for how political firings are contested, though the judge avoided weighing the case’s merits. Her termination followed her decade-long tenure prosecuting major crimes, including the bribery case against former Senator Robert Menendez.

This development underscores ongoing legal battles over executive power and workplace protections for federal employees. Legal experts will watch closely to see if the case gains traction in appeals.