Kickbacks
The gatekeeper and alleged lover to former Secretary Kristi Noem has been accused of soliciting payments in exchange for DHS contracts
The Justice Department has reportedly opened an investigation into longtime Republican operative Corey Lewandowski, according to a Friday report from CNN.
Lewandowski, who most recently served as an advisor — and alleged affair partner — to former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. According to CNN, the probe centers around allegations of contract misconduct referred to the Justice Department by Homeland Security’s Inspector General.
“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,” an attorney for Lewandowski told CNN.
At DHS, Lewandowski effectively acted as a second in command and gatekeeper to Noem. According to previous reporting from The Wall Street Journal, he was reportedly heavily involved in hiring decisions, filtering information to the secretary, and the negotiation and distribution of government contracts with the department.
Lewandowski was also described as a bit of a diva within the department. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Noem’s advisor had angrily fired a U.S. Coast Guard pilot after one of Noem’s blankets was reportedly left behind on their government plane. The pilot was reinstated shortly thereafter, once it became clear there was no one else available to fly the plane.
It was also reported that Lewandowski requested to be issued a government firearm, despite having no law enforcement role within DHS. He later denied the reporting,
Lewandowski’s role in negotiating and distributing contracts with DHS raised concerns among Democrats earlier this year. In April, Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee issued a letter expressing an intent to investigate allegations that he had “solicited personal payments from companies in exchange for government contracts.”
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The letter referenced a report from CNBC alleging that Lewandowski had asked George Zoley — founder of the massive for-profit prison conglomerate GEO Group — pay him directly in exchange for help securing new contracts (related to DHS’s immigration arrest and deportation surge) and protecting their current agreements. Lewandowski denied the allegation, and it is not yet clear if GEO Group is involved in the Justice Department investigation into alleged misconduct.
Lewandowski left the Department of Homeland Security alongside Noem in March. Under the auspices of the Trump administration, there is a significant chance that the investigation could be killed in the cradle — especially when its subject is a former Trump advisor. Democrats, however, have no intention of letting it slide. House Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), made clear in an interview with Rolling Stone that if Democrats secure a House majority in next month’s midterms, the corruption and abuse within DHS is a top priority for any future oversight work.