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

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.

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.

Here’s the latest:

Newsom calls for end of National Guard deployment

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for the remainder of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles to be returned to state control Wednesday and highlighted the pervasive fear throughout communities in Southern California since the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration.

Newsom spoke to reporters at a church in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, where pastors confronted federal immigration agents as they detained a man in the parking lot last month.

“This cruelty, it’s about terrorizing communities, it’s about appearing tough,” Newsom said.

The governor said that during his visits, his own security vehicles have been mistaken for federal immigration enforcement and put community members on edge.

He called for an immediate demobilization of the remaining 2,000 Guard troops so they can return to their work countering drug trafficking, providing border support, and assisting in wildfire forest management.

Justice Department fires prosecutor on Epstein case, two people familiar with the matter tell 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.

Her termination comes shortly after she prosecuted Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The rapper was convicted of lesser prostitution-related offenses.

The Justice Department recently appeared to acknowledge the existence of an investigation into her father, former FBI director James Comey, though the basis for that inquiry is unclear. He was abruptly fired by Trump during his first administration in 2017.