The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Corey Lewandowski based on allegations he profited off his senior role at the Department of Homeland Security, engaging in a ‘pay-to-play’ scheme, the Daily Mail has learned.
The investigation is based on a criminal referral that was recently submitted to the department by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (IG).
The Wall Street Journal reported first that the DOJ is ‘examining allegations’ that Lewandowski, as senior adviser to then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, profited off his top position.
Asked about the investigation by reporters on the White House lawn on Thursday, Donald Trump said: ‘I view it as if people aren’t honest, they’re stealing from me... I guess I could stop anything. I have no idea what he did.’
The Daily Mail first broke the news in March that the IG had launched the ‘wide-ranging’ criminal investigation into Noem, her rumored lover Lewandowski, and others over the alleged awarding of billions of dollars in no-bid contracts.
The department sent notices to dozens of people involved in approving the contracts, including many in Noem's inner circle, sources said.
These officials were ordered to preserve all communications, including documents, text messages, emails and phone records, the Daily Mail revealed.
'It's long overdue and much needed,' one senior DHS official familiar with the matter said at the time. 'There has been too much shady stuff done under their watch.'
Noem was spectacularly ousted from DHS, in part, due to scrutiny over a controversial $220 million advertisement campaign showing her on horseback.
The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Cory Lewandowski based on allegations he profited off his senior role at the Department of Homeland Security
Kristi Noem, her rumored lover Corey Lewandowski, and associates at Homeland Security are facing a 'wide-ranging' criminal investigation
However, the IG's criminal probe was not limited to the ads and investigators were digging into a 'wide range' of other contracts personally approved by Noem's office, senior DHS officials told the Daily Mail in March.
At this point, no crime has been alleged, but the referral shows the IG identified criminal activity and handed off the information to the department to follow up and potentially prosecute the longtime Trump loyalist who served as Noem’s de-facto chief of staff.
The DHS contracting process came under scrutiny over concerns about possible influence peddling and conflicts of interest.
Some DHS contractors told White House officials that Lewandowski allegedly solicited 'pay-to-play' fees in exchange for helping secure or expand contracts, a tactic sources told the Daily Mail was widely referred to as 'the Lewandowski tax.'
Lewandowski, a former special government employee, has denied any wrongdoing.
He has told people close to him he expects Trump would pardon him if charges ever came, a claim his lawyer has denied.
'The White House isn't going to stand in the way,' an official previously told the Daily Mail. 'Corey's fate will be decided by Corey's actions.’
'Corey has made his bed, and now he has to lie in it,' another source close to the White House said.
Noem and Lewandowski maintained tight control over the approval of all six-figure contracts. Their insistence on sole authorization created months-long backlogs, delaying contracts tied to FEMA disaster relief and construction of Trump's border wall.
But DHS sources told the Daily Mail this also allowed the pair to circumvent standard oversight.
When contacted for a response on the investigation at the time, Lewandowski replied, 'Fake news.'
Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem pictured with then-2016 Trump Campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (Facebook)
The DHS Office of Inspector General is an independent federal watchdog tasked with investigating fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct. The office is led by Joseph Cuffari, one of a small group of inspectors general to keep their posts after Trump fired 17 at the start of his second term.
Cuffari has told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that Noem 'systematically obstructed' eleven of his prior investigations.
A senior administration official told the Daily Mail that Lewandowski also unsuccessfully tried to get Cuffari fired on multiple occasions before leaving DHS.
Last spring, ten of Noem's closest advisers and staffers, including her three deputy chiefs of staff, left Homeland to join the State Department, where they were to assist her in her new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
Noem recently left the position but remains in an advisory role at the State Department.
The Department of Justice declined to comment.
The Daily Mail reached out to Lewandowski, Noem and the White House for comment.