Jen Psaki aghast at accusations of systematic corruption in Trump's inner circle
Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski departs after appearing before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 8, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
MS NOW's Jen Psaki reported Thursday on two blockbuster corruption stories plaguing the Trump administration.
NBC News revealed that Corey Lewandowski, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's top lieutenant, allegedly demanded kickbacks from federal contractors in exchange for contract growth, specifically targeting the private prison company GEO Group.
Bloomberg simultaneously reported that Donald Trump Jr. invested in a rare earth minerals startup valued at $200 million around the same time it secured a $620 million federal loan. The investment coincided with the Trump administration threatening to withhold critical HIV prevention funding in Zambia to pressure the country for more rare earth minerals.
The startup is now valued at nearly $2 billion.
Psaki expressed shock at the allegations, calling them examples of "major alleged grift."
Representatives for both Lewandowski and Trump Jr. denied wrongdoing, though the timing and circumstances raised serious ethical and legal questions about conflicts of interest and abuse of federal power.