After her abrupt dismissal from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, Molen Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey and a federal prosecutor, shared a passionate memo with her colleagues. In it, she emphasized that “fear is a tyrant’s tool to curb independent thoughts.”
She urged her team not to fear retaliation from powerful individuals, repeating the phrase “do the right thing” multiple times in her message on Thursday. This sentiment was reported by various outlets.
Molen Comey expressed that during her nearly ten years at the SDNY, fear had never been a dominant feeling. “We’re not afraid of negative press. We have the privilege of excellent security that ensures our physical safety,” she noted.
Comey’s firing occurred after almost a decade of service in the SDNY. A White House spokesperson informed reporters that the decision was made by the Department of Justice.
Her father, James Comey, has had a fraught history with President Trump, having been dismissed during Trump’s initial term. He was instrumental in starting an investigation into claims regarding Trump’s 2016 campaign and its alleged connections to Russia.
Molen’s termination appears closely tied to her father’s controversial standing. Throughout her career, she worked on high-profile cases, including those against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She participated in the prosecution that led to charges of sex trafficking against Epstein, who died while awaiting trial in 2019, as well as in the case against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
She highlighted the importance of treating individuals with wealth and influence the same as anyone else, stressing that the office should remain focused on facts and the law.
Expressing concern over the implications of her firing, she remarked, “If a career prosecutor is let go without justification, it can create an environment of fear among those who remain. Don’t allow this to happen.” She called for her colleagues to channel their energy into justice rather than succumbing to fear, framing the situation as a moment to passionately pursue justice for victims.
Recently, James Comey faced backlash for sharing a photo of a shell arranged in a way that some interpreted as a call to violence. He dismissed the criticism as a “distraction.”
