NEWS
NEWS

Justice Department fires prosecutor on Epstein case and daughter of ex-FBI director

Updated

The Justice Department has fired Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey and a prosecutor in the federal cases against Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jeffrey Epstein, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey.AP

There was no specific reason given for her firing from the U.S. attorney's office in the Southern District of New York, according to one of the people who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.

Earlier Wednesday, President Donald Trump said that it was "highly unlikely" he would fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell "unless he has to leave for fraud." The statement came less than 24 hours after Trump indicated in a private meeting that he is leaning in favor of dismissing the head of the U.S. central bank.

U.S. stocks were shaky after the news broke, as such a move could help Wall Street get the lower interest rates that it loves but would also risk a weakened Fed unable to make the unpopular moves needed to keep inflation under control.