WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into longtime political operative Corey Lewandowski over contracting matters during his tenure at the Department of Homeland Security, according to multiple news reports Thursday.
The inquiry follows a referral submitted to the Department of Justice by DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, ABC News and CBS News reported. Investigators are examining allegations that Lewandowski, who served as a senior voluntary adviser and de facto chief of staff to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, may have leveraged his government role for personal financial enrichment, sources familiar with the inquiry told CBS News.
Lewandowski has not been charged with any crime and has consistently maintained his innocence. The Justice Department declined to comment on the matter, while The Wall Street Journal first reported the existence of the inquiry.
“Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity,” his attorney, Adam Trigg, said in a statement provided to news outlets.
Trump reacts to federal inquiry
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he was unaware of specific details regarding the case and had not been briefed by Attorney General Todd Blanche, but insisted that administration personnel must follow the law.
“All I know is I want my people to be honest,” Trump told reporters. “And if they’re not gonna be honest they have to be prosecuted.” Trump added that dishonest conduct in government amounts to “stealing from me as president.”
The probe represents an uncommon move by federal law enforcement to scrutinize the actions of a prominent ally of the president. Lewandowski managed Trump’s primary campaign during the 2016 presidential election cycle and contributed to his subsequent political campaigns in 2020 and 2024.
Controversies and contracting oversight
During his months serving alongside Noem at Homeland Security, Lewandowski exercised broad authority across administrative matters, including hiring choices, screening briefings, and reviewing departmental vendor pacts, according to reporting cited by Rolling Stone. During that period, Noem mandated her personal written sign-off for any grant or contract exceeding $100,000, a move intended to bolster oversight that critics within the agency argued caused severe backlogs for vital initiatives.
Both Noem and Lewandowski were removed from the agency in March amid intense congressional scrutiny. Their departures came after a Capitol Hill hearing regarding a $220 million digital advertising initiative that showcased Noem and which she claimed Trump had approved.
Lewandowski’s contracting interactions had also drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill earlier in the year. In April, Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee signaled plans to investigate allegations concerning whether Lewandowski sought personal payments from commercial contractors, Rolling Stone reported.
What comes next
The Justice Department inquiry remains in its initial phases, and investigators have not disclosed whether any subpoenas have been issued or which specific contracts are under review. Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee have indicated that Homeland Security procurement practices and governance remain high on their investigative agenda heading into next month’s midterm elections.
