Federal Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Maurene Comey DOJ Lawsuit Over FBI Background Check Allegations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge has rejected the Department of Justice's request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Maurene Comey, alleging improper disclosure of her personal information during an FBI background check. The ruling, issued Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, allows the case to proceed to discovery. According to court documents, the plaintiff claims that the FBI leaked sensitive data from her 2013 security clearance investigation, including medical records and financial details, in violation of the Privacy Act. The DOJ had argued that the suit lacked standing and that the agency had legal immunity. Judge Ketanji Brown countered in her opinion that "the allegations, if proven, demonstrate a clear breach of federal privacy safeguards." The lawsuit, filed in July 2024, names senior FBI officials as respondents. Legal experts note that the outcome could set a precedent for accountability in background check protocols. No trial date has been set.