DHS watchdog refers investigation into Corey Lewandowski to Justice Department for review

The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general has referred its investigation into former “special government employee” Corey Lewandowski to the Justice Department, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

The DHS investigation stems from questions about how a $220 million contract for an ad campaign featuring then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was awarded. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Markwayne Mullin, now Homeland Security secretary, said in March that the department’s inspector general was studying the contract.

That investigation later expanded, according to a source familiar with the matter, after NBC News reported that Lewandowski allegedly demanded payment in exchange for protecting and growing the interests of a company, GEO Group, which was seeking government contracts unrelated to the ad campaign.

In response to an NBC News investigation, Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, said Thursday, “Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Department of Justice regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing while he proudly served his country in a pro bono capacity.” »

The Wall Street Journal was first to report that the allegations were being reviewed by the Justice Department.

Sources previously described to NBC News two meetings with GEO Group in which Lewandowski asked the company to pay him, with one source saying he wanted a “success fee.” The GEO Group declined his requests.

A spokesperson for Lewandowski in March denied this account of his interactions with the GEO group. “This is absolutely false and did not happen – Mr. Lewandowski has never demanded payment or compensation from Geo Group, at any time,” his representative said.

Before President Donald Trump fired her, Noem publicly admitted that she personally approved the expensive contracts for the ad campaign, but said Trump was aware of her involvement in their approval. After Noem’s ouster, Trump told NBC News: “I wasn’t thrilled. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know anything about it.”

Lewandowski was one of Noem’s top aides who left DHS after her departure.

News reports about allegations that Lewandowski sought payment from companies with operations before DHS emerged only after Noem’s firing and after Lewandowski, who was previously a top adviser to Trump and the first manager of his 2016 campaign, left the department.

Weeks before her firing, Noem also faced scrutiny for her attempts to acquire a $70 million luxury plane for the department she led.

Asked about referring Lewandowski’s case to the Justice Department, Trump said Thursday: “I’ve heard about it, but I don’t know exactly what it is. All I know is I want my people to be honest, and if they’re not, they need to be prosecuted.”

“I will never do anything to prevent the prosecution of someone who is dishonest,” he added.