WASHINGTON — Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan and daughter of ex-FBI director James Comey, has made headlines following her unexpected firing. In a note to her colleagues, she stated, "fear is the tool of a tyrant" and urged her peers to resist allowing fear to influence their work.

Comey’s termination, which occurred on Wednesday, has raised concerns about the Justice Department's recent trend of dismissing attorneys without explanation. In her note, Comey 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."

She encouraged her colleagues to channel their feelings into a "fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power" and to remain committed to justice and truth. Comey had a notable career in the Southern District of New York, known for handling high-profile cases, including those against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jeffrey Epstein.

Her work included the prosecution of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. Recently, she was involved in the case against Combs, which concluded with a mixed verdict earlier this month. While Combs was acquitted of the main charges, he was convicted of lesser offenses that could lead to a short prison sentence.

Comey’s firing is part of a broader pattern within the Justice Department, which has seen several prosecutors dismissed, particularly those involved in cases that have drawn the ire of former President Donald Trump. This includes attorneys who worked on the U.S. Capitol riot cases and those associated with special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump.

The Justice Department has faced scrutiny for what some see as a disregard for civil service protections, which are intended to shield attorneys from political motivations in their employment. Maurene Comey’s position was seen as precarious due to her father's contentious history with Trump, who has publicly criticized James Comey since his firing in 2017.

The White House, when asked about the firing, stated it was a decision made by the Department of Justice. Maurene Comey’s recent work included securing the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges related to Epstein’s crimes.

As the Justice Department navigates criticism from various political factions, including calls from some right-wing figures for Comey’s dismissal, the implications of her firing continue to unfold. Attorney General Pam Bondi is currently facing backlash for not releasing additional evidence from Epstein’s investigation, further complicating the department's standing with certain political groups.