Kristi Noem's tumultuous tenure as Department of Homeland Security Secretary ended Thursday when Donald Trump unceremoniously and abruptly fired her—but her troubles are just beginning.
Hours after Trump announced Noem's dismissal on Truth Social, making her the first major Cabinet casualty of his second term, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a former federal prosecutor, announced he would pursue a criminal investigation into whether she committed perjury.
According to the New York Times, Blumenthal is calling for the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to examine whether Noem lied under oath during a Tuesday Senate hearing. She testified that Corey Lewandowski, her top "adviser," did not approve Department of Homeland Security contracts.
Blumenthal told reporters: "Her firing doesn't absolve her or relieve her of potential liability for perjury, and we are going to pursue an investigation of the evidence that she lied, because it relates to corruption in the administration."
Lewandowski, a longtime Trump ally serving as a "special government employee," had become a significant and controversial figure inside DHS as Noem's senior adviser.
During the Senate hearing, Blumenthal directly confronted Noem. "Does Corey Lewandowski have a role in approving contracts, and if so, what is that role?" he asked.
"His role is as a special government employee, and special government employees work for the White House and the administration," Noem responded.
"So, he does have a role," Blumenthal pressed. "No," Noem replied.
The next day, Blumenthal sent Noem a letter accusing her of misrepresenting Lewandowski's actual role. "Evidence suggests that your testimony was false," he wrote, noting that department records showed Lewandowski had "personally approved contracts" and that employees considered his signature a "green light" for spending.
Blumenthal warned of the legal consequences: "The law requires and Congress expects witnesses to provide complete and truthful testimony. There are criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully making materially false statements or representations to Congress."
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