What's happened
A DHS inspector general referral has prompted a DOJ inquiry into potential contracting abuses under Kristi Noem’s tenure, involving Lewandowski and a 220-million advertising deal. Presidents, aides, and contractors face scrutiny as officials deny wrongdoing.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The referral signals a widening DOJ probe into contracting at DHS during Noem’s leadership, and it could test political alliances surrounding the former administration.
- The case highlights how temporary advisory roles can intersect with large-scale contracts, raising questions about oversight and accountability.
- Readers will want clarity on what contracts are in question, who approved them, and what the potential consequences could be for those involved.
This will likely influence ongoing debates over DHS governance and potential reforms to the use of special government employees.
How we got here
The inquiry follows a DHS inspector general referral that triggered a Justice Department review. Lewandowski served as a special government employee and was closely connected to Kristi Noem during their time at DHS, with concerns raised about contract approvals and management of funding.
Our analysis
- New York Post reports that the DOJ is reviewing a referral from the DHS inspector general and cites allegations involving ad contracts and other funding decisions. - BBC Business notes Lewandowski denied wrongdoing and that he was not contacted by the DOJ. - AP News confirms the DOJ inquiry and quotes Trump calling for honesty and prosecution for dishonesty.
Go deeper
- What contracts are at issue and who signed them?
- How might this probe affect Kristi Noem and Donald Trump politically?
- What next for the DOJ’s investigation and potential charges?
More on these topics
-
Donald Trump - 45th and 47th U.S. President
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
-
United States Department of Homeland Security - Ministry
The United States Department of Homeland Security is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries.
-
Kristi Noem - Governor of South Dakota
Kristi Lynn Noem is an American politician who is the 33rd governor of South Dakota, serving since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the U.S.
-
Corey R. Lewandowski - American commentator
Corey R. Lewandowski is an American political operative, lobbyist and political commentator. He was a political commentator for One America News Network, Fox News and CNN, as well as a campaign manager of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for President of the
-
The Wall Street Journal - Newspaper
The Wall Street Journal is an American business-focused, English-language international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese.
-
The United States of America - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
-
GEO Group - American institutional facilities company
The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) is an American publicly traded C corporation private prison and mental health facility operator. The company's facilities include immigration detention centers, minimum security detention centers, and mental-health and residential-treatment facilities in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO also operates government-owned facilities pursuant to management contracts. As of September 30, 2024, the company owned or managed 80,000 beds at 95 facilities, making it the largest prison operator in the United States. In 2019, agencies of the federal government of the United States generated 53% of the company's revenues. Up until 2021 the company was designated as a real estate investment trust, at which time its board of directors elected to reclassify as a C corporation under the stated goal of reducing the company's debt. The company has been the subject of civil suits in the United States by prisoners and their families for injuries from riots and poor treatment at prisons and immigrant detention facilities. Due to settlement of a class-action suit in 2012 for its management of Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Mississippi...
-
White House - Official residence and office of the President of the United States
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the national...