Justice Department opens criminal investigation into Corey Lewandowski | Trump administration

Corey Lewandowski, a former political adviser to Donald Trump and a top aide at the Department of Homeland Security, is under criminal investigation over allegations that he profited from his role in the U.S. government, three U.S. officials and a fourth person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The investigation began with a criminal referral to the Justice Department by DHS’s internal watchdog, according to the four people. The DHS Office of Inspector General investigated Lewandowski’s involvement in the handling of some government contracts, according to one of the people, a DHS official.

An attorney for Lewandowski, Adam Trigg, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The investigation was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, which quoted Lewandowski’s lawyer as saying his client denies “all allegations of wrongdoing.”

The DoJ has not yet issued any subpoenas or other legal requests as part of the criminal investigation, according to one of the sources. The four people spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump’s Justice Department has investigated several prominent critics of the president, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, but investigations into people close to Trump have been rare. The department also moved to dismiss several existing cases involving Trump allies, including supporters charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Asked about media reporting on the investigation, Trump told reporters he did not know the details of the investigation, but said, “I want my people to be honest.”

“And if they are not honest, I will ask my Department of Justice to do whatever they need to do,” Trump added.

Lewandowski was a top aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her tenure as head of DHS. Trump fired Noem in March after several months of controversy, including the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis and questions from lawmakers over a $220 million advertising contract promoting Noem that was awarded without a standard bidding process.

Lewandowski had signed some contracts with DHS despite questionable legal authority as a special government employee, according to the DHS official. Some grants and contracts, including those involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were suspended under Lewandowski’s leadership, according to two of the people, both DHS officials.

Lewandowski previously served as campaign manager on Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016 and advised his 2024 campaign.