All posts tagged "corey lewandowski"

Corey Lewandowski plotting to court Trump by targeting defiant GOP leader: report

An ousted White House official is considering a campaign against a defiant GOP Senator to return to Trump's orbit, per a new report.

According to a New York Post exclusive, former advisor Corey Lewandowski is plotting to court President Donald Trump with a campaign that would pit rumored lover and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem against Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

Thune has reportedly been a headache for Trump because of the stalled SAVE America Act, a proof-of-citizenship voting bill. Thune's seat will be up for election in 2028, when Trump will be out of the White House, but Lewandowski is reportedly plotting to return from "political exile" by pushing Noem for the Senate seat, The Post wrote. Thune told reporters earlier this week that his "assumption" is that he plans to run for re-election.

"Corey is looking for ways to get back in good with President Trump," an anonymous Republican strategist told The Post. Lewandowski told conservative podcaster John Fredericks in late June that Thune is "very susceptible to a very serious Republican primary challenge," The Post noted.

"The American people will be looking at someone who has a proven history of winning an election in South Dakota to maybe challenge John Thune," Lewandowski added.

According to The Post, multiple Republicans say that Lewandowski, a former campaign advisor for Trump, considers remaining in Trump's good graces to be essential, not just for him but for his public affairs firm, Lewandowski Strategic Advisors.

"He values that relationship more than anything else," an anonymous source told The Post. Noem, however, flatly said during a statue unveiling on Friday, "I'm not planning to run for Senate in 2028."

When The Post reached Lewandowski for comment, he said, "President Trump carried the state of South Dakota by nearly 30 points. The people of that state overwhelmingly support his agenda for America."

Lewandowski added, "No politician is immune to the will of the voters," and said every Senator should pass Trump's SAVE America Act. "I would encourage every incumbent senator to achieve this objective," he told The Post.

Noem and Lewandowski were spotted together in Minnesota, riding bikes, shopping and eating together, earlier this week, sparking more rumors about their relationship.

Kristi Noem's bronze statue ceremony devolves into a merciless roast

The unveiling of a bronze statue for a fired Trump Cabinet secretary is turning into an opportunity for online roasting.

Trump's former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem received a bronze statue in honor of her governorship of South Dakota, according to a post on X by CSPAN. Noem was ousted from the Trump administration earlier this year as her department dealt with the fallout of violent federal immigration enforcement and a scandal involving her husband, Bryon Noem (who wasn't at the unveiling ceremony).

Onlookers reacted to the unveiling of the statue, which depicts Noem with a cowboy hat and a horse, by recalling how Noem shot her dog, Cricket, her rumored affair with DHS advisor Corey Lewandowski, and more.

Journalist and political commentator William Coffin joked, "Bryon's statue unveiling was less well attended," and posted an AI-generated image poking fun at Bryon's reported cross-dressing.

The X account Prison Mitch similarly posted an AI-generated image of a statue depicting Noem pointing a gun at a dog, and wrote, "Now Cricket gets to watch Kristi Noem do it all over for eternity."

"Cricket would like a word," wrote progressive advocate and lawyer Jordan Rhone.

"Think everyone watching this held their breath for a sec when second figure was being unveiled," David Freedlander, a political columnist and features writer for New York Magazine, joked, referring to the unveiling of the horse.

"They forgot the dead dog at her feet," historian Brooks D. Simpson reacted.

"After they showed Noem first, I was expecting to see her husband with his freak fetish or Corey Lewandowski next to her as a part of the statue," right-wing influencer Ian Miles Cheong posted.

"Nice of them to include Corey in the statue like that," joked political commentator Andrew Donaldson, referring to the horse.

Filmmaker Cam Miller simply reacted to Noem's statue by writing, "But...why?"

Rumors swirl as Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski spotted together

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was spotted in Minnesota with Corey Lewandowski, sparking more rumors about her alleged romantic involvement with her former aide.

Noem and Lewandowski were caught riding bicycles together Tuesday at Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata, Minnesota, where they were seen stopping at a market and cafe called The Grocer's Table, TMZ reported. Noem was wearing a flannel shirt and a floppy straw hat.

Noem has denied having an intimate relationship with Lewandowski, even after she was pressed about it before congressional leaders under oath. She referred to the allegations as "tabloid garbage."

President Donald Trump fired Noem in March, then shuffled her to a new position as Ambassador to the Shield of the Americas amid growing scrutiny over her leadership. Lewandowski has since left DHS and his position as an unpaid adviser to Noem, who has been going through divorce proceedings following the discovery of her husband's "double life" and "bimbofication" fetish.

The internet commented on the photos released by TMZ. Several raised their concerns after Noem, who was responsible for implementing Trump's aggressive immigration policies that began in Minnesota, was seen visiting the state.

"Get the f--- out of my state you disgusting slag. And Noem, too," Dane Rauschenberg, long-distance runner and author, wrote on X.

"If I were @KristiNoem, I simply would not feel safe in Minnesota after @ICEgov executed two Americans in their streets under her leadership," political strategist TJ Adams-Falconer, a former Obama spokesperson, wrote on X.

"The Love Birds," Scott Horton, Harper's Magazine contributing editor, wrote on Bluesky.

Corey Lewandowski in the crosshairs as DHS watchdog weighs criminal referral: WSJ

Federal investigators have uncovered evidence that Corey Lewandowski may have improperly steered government deals, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to a Friday article by The Wall Street Journal, sources familiar with the matter say Lewandowski, a former senior aide at the Department of Homeland Security, is the subject of an investigation into whether he used his influence to award government contracts.

Investigators led by DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari are considering a criminal referral to the Justice Department, the Journal reported, noting that the referral is not imminent.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and White House officials have been briefed on the investigation, and Mullin recently informed White House officials about some of the investigation's findings, according to a source who spoke with the Journal, which added that "Mullin and his team have cooperated with the investigation."

Lewandowski, who was also Trump's campaign manager in 2016, served as a top aide to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem until March, when Trump ousted Noem. The Journal noted that Cuffari "regularly clashed with Noem during her tenure at the agency."

According to sources for the Journal, investigators are examining DHS contracts signed during Noem's tenure, and "department officials had been surprised at how involved Lewandowski was in the process." Sources also told the Journal that Lewandowski "personally signed specific contracts" even though he wasn't a full-time government official.

The Journal reported that a spokesperson for Lewandowski denied that he issued contracts while at the department and that he hadn't been contacted by anyone regarding the investigation. The DHS inspector general's office neither confirmed nor denied the investigation, according to the Journal.

Corey Lewandowski accused of demanding payments from major DHS contractors: report

Corey Lewandowski, a top adviser to now-ex-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has been accused of direct shakedown attempts against contractors working with the government agency, a report revealed Tuesday.

The founder of private prison operator the GEO Group, George Zoley, requested a meeting with Lewandowski a year ago as the group stood to benefit significantly from Trump's mass deportation agenda, which would require the federal government to spend tens of billions of dollars transporting, detaining, monitoring, and deporting undocumented immigrants, NBC News reported.

The company's existing federal contracts in those areas already totaled more than $1 billion annually.

During Trump's transition to the White House, Lewandowski told Zoley "he wanted to be paid in exchange for protecting and growing GEO Group's DHS contracts," according to a senior DHS official and three people familiar with the discussion. Zoley, concerned about propriety, told Lewandowski "he would have no part of it," sources said, describing the confrontation as tense.

Once the new administration took office, Lewandowski assumed an unpaid "special government employee" role at DHS, where he served as "de facto chief of staff" to Noem and, sources said, influenced contract awards. Seeking to ease tensions from their previous encounter, Zoley arranged a follow-up meeting with Lewandowski in late February or early March 2025.

That second meeting proved little better. Zoley offered to place Lewandowski on retainer — a recurring consulting fee — with GEO Group, according to two industry sources. Lewandowski rejected the offer, stating he wanted compensation based on the company's new or renewed DHS contracts, according to NBC News.

"He wanted payments—what some people would call a success fee," said a person with knowledge of the meeting. Zoley declined. Afterward, two of GEO Group's federal contracts were shortened, and several of its facilities that could house migrants remain idle, even as Congress and Trump have funded DHS's mass deportation campaign. GEO Group officials believe this resulted from refusing Lewandowski's solicitations, a source familiar with their thinking said.

A senior DHS official told NBC News that within weeks of the second meeting, Lewandowski instructed him not to award additional contracts to GEO Group. Lewandowski's spokesperson denied this.

Now lawmakers are scrutinizing Lewandowski's role. After Noem testified at a congressional hearing about her and Lewandowski's involvement in government contracts, Trump called both to discuss his role in DHS contracting decisions, a source told NBC News. Trump subsequently fired Noem, announcing her departure as secretary on March 31. Lewandowski has not decided whether to leave DHS with her.

Trump has also questioned aides about whether Lewandowski personally profited from the advertising campaign, at one point allegedly telling advisers: "Corey made out on that one."

NBC News' report was based on a seven-month investigation and interviews with nearly two dozen people who expressed concerns about Lewandowski's contracting role.

One marketing firm with no prior federal contracting experience abandoned plans to pursue two lucrative DHS contracts after receiving requests to pay Lewandowski indirectly, according to someone familiar with the discussions. The firm's official later recounted the experience to a Trump administration official, who confirmed it to NBC News.

The firm was contacted by Salus Worldwide Solutions, run by William Walters, reported by The Washington Post as a donor to the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit promoting Trump administration-aligned causes. In May 2025, Salus won a fast-tracked $1 billion DHS deportation contract.

A Salus representative asked the marketing firm owner about pursuing a $20 million contract to create materials for a DHS-affiliated agency, NBC reported. During a September conference call, Salus laid out most details. But afterward, a Salus representative called with a final requirement.

"You're going to have to bring in a consultant to manage it," the representative told the marketing firm owner. When the owner asked what to manage, the representative replied: "Manage the relationship." Confused, the owner asked for clarification, blaming his inexperience with federal contracting.

"We are guaranteed this contract, but we need to make sure we are properly thanking the person who gave it to us," the Salus representative said, naming Lewandowski as the one who secured the contract and deserved gratitude. The owner was told he could hire one of several consulting firms connected to Lewandowski.

This alarmed the marketing firm owner. He called two federal contracting professionals, asking if such an arrangement was standard. One called it a "giant red flag," while the other raised legal concerns, according to the report.

The Salus representative then told the owner that because he refused to hire a consultant, the marketing firm would not receive the deal. The contract was ultimately not awarded to Salus.

Lewandowski's spokesperson called the allegations "patently false. Mr. Lewandowski had no conversations with anyone regarding a marketing contract." The spokesperson added: "Any insinuation that someone was speaking on behalf of Mr. Lewandowski was completely unauthorized and if undertaken, it was done so without his knowledge."

Salus's lawyer denied both meetings' accounts as "entirely false" and stated: "Salus would never entertain this type of arrangement." The lawyer added that Salus "was never funded to perform work involving a subcontract to a marketing firm."

DHS staff used spy-blocking bags and sound machines to hide from Kristi Noem: report

The environment inside the Department of Homeland Security under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, chief adviser and long-rumored lover, was apparently so hostile that staffers had to take extreme measures, according to reports on Monday.

Top ICE staffers apparently tried to block the duo from alleged spying concerns by using sound machines to block recordings because they worried that they were under surveillance, The Daily Beast reported. An experienced employee described the “distrust, abuse, and corruption” within the agency under Noem's leadership as the "most toxic" they have ever seen.

In a Washington Examiner investigation published last week, three people revealed U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner Rodney Scott was apparently so concerned Noem and Lewandowski were eavesdropping that he carried his phone in a Faraday bag, which is made of aluminum or silver to block electromagnetic signals and shield cell phones from surveillance or interception. Scott has claimed the pair had conducted an "evil" effort to remove him from his role and he was "paranoid" that Noem's chief adviser was "spying on him through his work phone and had bugged his office."

Scott said he thought Lewandowski was "trying to find anything that could persuade Trump to fire Scott, since Noem lacked the authority to do so herself."

That's what led Scott to make an unusual move.

"Rodney had his cell phones in a Faraday bag," an unnamed source said.

"I had never seen that outside of the intel community, where somebody’s putting their phones in a bag so they’re not emanating and can’t be monitored," according to the source. "I went ahead and put my phone in the bag, and that’s when we had the conversation."

Investigation of Noem's FEMA hits snag over hunt for missing million dollar contract

An ongoing investigation into the Department of Homeland Security has hit a snag as a crucial contract has gone missing.

A Federal Emergency Management Agency appointment made by "chief of staff" Corey Lewandowski under DHS head Kristi Noem has sparked a wider search. It was revealed in a report that outsider Kara Voorhies had been allegedly paid $19,000 a week for her role within the department. Documentation of this is yet to surface, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The appointment of Voorhies has left investigators concerned, with an internal watchdog at the DHS flagging the appointment as potentially a matter for criminal prosecution. Tarini Parti, Josh Dawsey, and Michelle Hackman wrote, "It isn’t clear exactly what Voorhies was hired to do, but contractors like her aren’t typically involved in awarding contracts and making spending decisions on behalf of federal agencies, department officials say.

"Her role in those decisions raised alarm bells for the inspector general as well as for lawmakers. The investigation is in its early stages, and it is unclear if the inspector general will refer the matter for criminal prosecution. The office doesn’t have the authority to bring criminal charges."

The ongoing investigation is set to look into "any potential improprieties in the contracting process" and any evidence of "personal enrichment of top officials", according to the report.

But a probe into Voorhies' contract is proving difficult as the watchdog cannot locate the files. "FEMA officials have been unable to locate her contract and investigators are still seeking it, according to people familiar with the matter," the WSJ reported. "Senior FEMA officials were told that Voorhies was getting paid as much as $19,000 a week, some of the people said, which would amount to roughly $1 million a year.

"It is unclear when Voorhies, who officials say was brought into the department by Lewandowski, started at FEMA. She was at the department for most of Noem’s tenure and left this month.

"People close to Lewandowski, who remains on contract as a special government employee, said that he has told them he expects the president would pardon him in the event of a criminal case stemming from the inspector general’s probe." Adam Trigg, a representative for Lewandowski, said his client denies any wrongdoing.

Noem's alleged lover hit with new probe as Dems try to root out 'shadow chief of staff'

A new investigation launched Wednesday demanded that the Department of Homeland Security retain all records relating to Corey Lewandowski, who has long been rumored to be having an affair with outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and served as her top aide.

Lewandowski was named directly in a letter from ranking Democrats in the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, The Daily Beast reported.

“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Homeland Security are investigating serious allegations of high-level corruption, self-dealing, and mismanagement under the leadership of former Secretary Kristi Noem," according to the letter. "At the heart of these allegations sits Mr. Corey Lewandowski, who has used his close access to DHS leadership to wield outsized and undue influence over the Department. We request the DHS Office of Inspector General immediately initiate an investigation into Mr. Lewandowski’s role at DHS."

Lewandowski's role was characterized as a special government employee, but insiders have claimed that he wielded more power and could have been acting as a "shadow chief of staff" for Noem. Lewandowski, who previously advised President Donald Trump, has been accused of attending high-level DHS briefings, setting up and reviewing government contracts, and making personnel decisions — all while pursuing his own business interests in the private sector.

The committee requested that the Office of Inspector General release an update on the probe request by April 1.

Kristi Noem's right-hand man at DHS given the boot by admin officials: insider

A right-hand man to former Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem has reportedly been removed from his position at the agency.

Noem, who has been reshuffled in Donald Trump's cabinet to a newly created position, the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, had appointed the likes of Corey Lewandowski and Joseph Mazzara to her aides during her year-long stint at the department. Mazzara has since been removed from his position at the DHS, and it is believed Lewandowski may be set to follow.

The Daily Beast reported Mazzara "emptied his office" and was "walked out of the building" by employees. One insider said "Mazzara was very much in the Noem camp, and Rodney Scott can’t stand him. So perhaps Scott was able to get him booted.”

A Customs and Border Patrol source went further: “With Noem gone, Scott was able to fire him. He had the opening and he took it.” Mazarra's time at the DHS appears to be short-lived, with an internal memo dated to December 22, 2025 confirming his appointment.

Insiders suggest Mazzara played an important role not just for Noem, but for Lewandowski too. "He was Corey’s #1," one insider claimed. Another added, "He was Corey’s henchman and sought to fire anyone not loyal to Noem, Corey and Trump."

An official response from the Department of Homeland Security denied Mazzara had been removed from his post, but an unnamed source responding to this statement added, "He will be fired soon if it didn’t happen today."

Insiders sounded pleased to see the back of Mazzara, who was described as Lewandowski's "hatchet man" inside the DHS.

The source added, "He personally removed well over a dozen senior career leaders, some who had served in government since the Reagan years, and replaced them with Trump loyalists. Quite the turn of events for him to be removed from his post.

"Mazzara showed no interest in the actual work of the department. He was more concerned with ‘owning the libs,’ at the expense of the department’s mission and obligation to keep America safe."

Republican knives come out for Kristi Noem: ‘I don’t think she walks away from this’

MAGA lawmakers have started to unleash their real thoughts on ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, The Daily Beast reported on Friday.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) signaled that she would seek a subpoena through the House Oversight Committee and has called for an investigation into Noem's spending after it was reported that Noem claimed under oath that President Donald Trump had signed off on a $220 million advertising campaign — but Trump said he never had. Mace suggested Noem "will pay repercussions for spending taxpayer funds on her 'personal PR.'”

“I don’t think she walks away from this, and she shouldn’t, because as Republicans, we need to hold our own accountable,” Mace told Newsmax in an interview Friday.

Mace said she didn't know about the pricey campaign until Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) asked Noem during the congressional hearing this week.

“I’m very grateful to Republican Senator Kennedy,” Mace said. “I had no idea how much money, hundreds of millions of dollars, that Kristi Noem had wasted on her personal PR for all those TV ads that are running across the country that have nothing to do with deporting illegal aliens.”

Other Republicans have also questioned Noem's leadership regarding the death of two Americans by ICE agents in Minneapolis, questions about FEMA disaster relief and the luxury planes she reportedly flew in with Corey Lewandowski, a special government worker and former Trump campaign aide whom she has been accused of having an affair with.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told WFMD there are "legit concerns" over Noem's time as DHS head.

“When there was a $200 million advertising [campaign], we should be better stewards of our money,” Bacon said. “I think the president probably saw a need for change.”