Judge confronts Trump DOJ lawyer in the courtroom: report

A federal judge confronted a Department of Justice, or DOJ, lawyer during a pretrial hearing over the firing of Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey.

Maurene, a DOJ prosecutor who played a key role in cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was fired last year via a letter, citing Article II presidential powers, reports Politico. Comey's attorney, Ellen Blain, characterized the DOJ's argument as a "novel and breathtaking theory" of presidential power.

Yet DOJ lawyer Karen Lesperance affirmed the firing was legitimate, "even if there were political motivations."

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman pressed Lesperance on the limits of the presidential Article II power, asking whether a president could fire employees to create an "all-white executive branch? or all-black?"

Lesperance stammered and told the judge she could not answer on behalf of the government.

"You're here representing the government," said Judge Furman, according to Politico.

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