Corey Lewandowski, who previously served in a special government role, might be facing criminal charges as a result of a federal investigation centered on contracts from the Department of Homeland Security during the time Kristi Noem was Secretary, according to various reports.
The DHS Office of Inspector General has determined that there’s evidence Lewandowski may have been involved in questionable contracting practices and might recommend that the case be forwarded to the Department of Justice for potential legal action. This information was noted in a report published on Friday.
It’s important to mention that the investigation is still in progress, and, as of now, no immediate actions are expected, the newspaper clarified.
DHS Secretary Markwayn Mullin, who took over from Noem in March and was appointed by President Trump, has been cooperating with the investigation and has briefed White House officials about some findings, as reported.
Through his representative, Lewandowski has claimed he did not issue any contracts while at DHS and asserted that he has not been approached by investigators about this issue.
The White House requested comments from DHS regarding the situation, but there has been no response so far.
Previous reports have revealed that DHS Inspector General Joseph Cufari is looking into hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts, notably including no-bid agreements for a $220 million advertising campaign featuring Noem, which were authorized during Lewandowski’s time as a top adviser.
Mr. Cufari is also responsible for reviewing a $1 billion acquisition of a DHS warehouse intended for conversion into an immigration detention facility, a plan that ultimately fell through, leading to those buildings being sold for more than their market value.
Lewandowski has held various roles at DHS, overseeing staffing and contract decisions. Reports indicate that he personally signed off on certain contracts, even though he wasn’t a full-time government employee.
Lastly, Noem has been accused of having a long-term affair with Lewandowski, a claim she didn’t deny during a Congressional hearing the day before her dismissal.
