President Donald Trump said people working for him who are dishonest should be prosecuted when asked Thursday about reports that the Justice Department is investigating longtime ally Corey Lewandowski.
“I don't know exactly what it is,” Trump said. “All I know is I want my people to be honest. If they're not gonna be honest, they have to be prosecuted.”
“I view if people are not honest, they're stealing from me, as president,” Trump added.
The remarks came after CNN and The New York Times reported that the Justice Department is investigating allegations involving Lewandowski's work at the Department of Homeland Security.
A Justice Department spokesperson told Newsweek: “The Department declines to comment at this time.”
What We Know About the Reported Investigation
Justice Department prosecutors are investigating allegations of contract misconduct at DHS, including Lewandowski's role while working closely with then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, CNN reported, citing multiple people familiar with the investigation.
The probe followed a criminal referral for Lewandowski from the DHS inspector general's office, which had been examining contracting practices at the agency during Noem and Lewandowski's tenure, according to CNN.
The investigation involves accusations that Lewandowski personally profited from his role as a top adviser to DHS, The New York Times reported, citing two officials with knowledge of the matter.
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It remains unclear exactly what actions are under investigation, the Times reported.
Lewandowski's attorney denied wrongdoing on his behalf and said he had not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding an investigation.
“Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity,” attorney Adam Trigg told CNN.
Lewandowski's Role At DHS
Lewandowski has been a prominent figure in Trump's political orbit for more than a decade, having served as the president's first campaign manager during his 2016 White House run.
He became a fixture at DHS during Trump's second term, serving as Noem's chief adviser, although he was initially brought in as a special government employee, CNN reported. Homeland Security officials ultimately viewed Lewandowski as Noem's gatekeeper, and he left the agency after Trump fired Noem, according to CNN.
Lewandowski wielded power beyond the scope of his unpaid advisory position, including influence over personnel, contracts, and department operations, according to the Times.
Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told officials in her office in recent months that she wanted investigators to look into claims of kickbacks connected to contracting at DHS, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the investigation.
CNN did not report that Lewandowski himself was accused of receiving kickbacks.
Prosecutors had been awaiting the results of the DHS inspector general's probe, according to CNN, which reported that it remained unclear which U.S. attorney's office was leading the investigation.
Trump Responds To Probe
Trump said Thursday that he did not know the details of the investigation but repeatedly emphasized that people working for him should be honest.
His response stopped short of defending Lewandowski against the reported allegations, despite their long political relationship. Instead, Trump said dishonesty by people working for him should result in prosecution.
The reported investigation marks an unusual turn for Lewandowski, a longtime figure in Trump's political orbit who emerged as an influential adviser at DHS during the president's second term.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Steven Frank, Gray R. Thomas