Whistleblower Protections

On September 15, 2025, former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey sued the Justice Department and White House for illegally firing her on July 16, 2025, alleging it was politically motivated due to her father's identity as former FBI Director James Comey. The Manhattan Assistant U.S. Attorney, who prosecuted high-profile cases including Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean 'Diddy' Combs, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Her firing came without explanation the day after supervisors asked her to lead a major public corruption case and three months after receiving an 'Outstanding' performance review. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton told Comey only that the firing 'came from Washington.' Comey's lawsuit claims her termination violated civil service protections and seeks reinstatement, back pay, and damages, warning that political firings undermine Justice Department independence.

Know your right to observe government decision-making processes

Know what prevents public officials from improperly benefiting from their positions

Identify and report unethical behavior by public officials

Use freedom of information laws to obtain government documents

Track whether officials comply with disclosure and openness requirements

Know how ethics violations are investigated and punished