Justice Department Reviewing Allegations Against Corey Lewandowski Over DHS Contracts

The Justice Department is reviewing allegations that Corey Lewandowski profited from his position at the Department of Homeland Security, following a criminal referral from the department's inspector general, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported on Thursday. It is the first publicly known case of the Justice Department under President Donald Trump scrutinizing someone close to the president during his second term.

Lewandowski served as the top adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, acting as her de facto chief of staff while holding the status of a special government employee. The inspector general's office has been examining contracting practices at the department during their time there, and it shared its findings with prosecutors in recent days, according to people familiar with the matter cited by both outlets.

A gatekeeper over department spending

While at the department, Lewandowski or close associates signed off on nearly all spending decisions above $100,000, the Journal has previously reported. That gave him a clear view of the contractors working for the department and the ability to hold up their contracts. The Journal has also reported that he appeared to try to use his influence for personal gain, including asking several countries in the Middle East to hire him on the side to help with visa issues and other matters.

Lewandowski has previously denied seeking foreign contracts while in government, and he has denied playing a role in approving department contracts. CNN reported that Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney in Washington, told officials in her office in recent months that she wanted investigators to look into claims of kickbacks connected to contracting at the department. It is not yet clear which US attorney's office is leading the review, and prosecutors have been waiting for the inspector general's work.

A denial, and a warning from the president

"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," his attorney Adam Trigg told CNN. The Justice Department declined to comment, and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The inspector general's office said it does not discuss specific investigative matters and does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.

Asked about the inquiry on Thursday, Trump said: "All I know is, I want my people to be honest, and if they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted."

Lewandowski and Noem were both pushed out of the department in March. Trump fired Noem after a run of embarrassing revelations about infighting at the agency and its spending decisions, and questions about her handling of department contracts were among the issues raised before her removal.