Aircraft purchases made under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are drawing fresh scrutiny after DHS cited an “ongoing criminal law enforcement investigation” to withhold records, The Washington Sun reported Tuesday.
The disclosure came in response to reporter Mark Alfred’s request for documents detailing the purchases, including sellers, prices and funding sources.
“DHS can neither confirm nor deny the existence of records responsive to this portion of the request,” the department’s Privacy Office said. Doing so, it added, “could reasonably be expected to interfere with ongoing or prospective enforcement proceedings.”
The response Tuesday did not identify the investigation’s targets or establish that Noem herself is under investigation.
The development follows New York Times reporting that DHS bought five airplanes from Daedalus Aviation Corporation at a “substantial markup” near the end of Noem’s tenure.
The company’s chairman, William Walters, donated $10,000 to a super PAC supporting Noem, according to The Sun.
The ex-Trump cabinet official lashed out at the Times report, demanding a retraction and correction in a social media post. She also disputed the Times’ characterization of Daedalus as a political donor.
The FBI and White House referred questions from The Sun to DHS, which did not immediately respond. The Justice Department as well did not respond.
The Sun is appealing the records denial.
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