DOJ Launches Investigation into Former DHS Adviser Corey Lewandowski Over Contract Allegations

Federal prosecutors are examining whether Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Republican operative who served as de facto chief of staff to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, misused his advisory role to influence contracts and solicit kickbacks at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The probe follows a criminal referral from the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) that detailed alleged contract exploitation, Middle-East service deals, and attempts to extract financial benefits from private contractors. The Department of Justice has not commented on the investigation, and DHS has not responded to requests for comment.

CNNFederal Criminal Inquiry Targets Corey Lewandowski: Trump Ally Under DOJ Investigation Over Alleged DHS Contract Kickbacks and Middle East Deals

During Noem’s tenure, she required personal approval for every DHS contract or grant exceeding $100,000, a practice she defended as waste reduction but which career officials described as “unusual and unnecessary.” The OIG, led by Joseph Cuffari, reported in early March that DHS leadership had obstructed parts of his review. Noem’s aggressive management of the agency’s purse strings, including a disputed $220 million advertising campaign that she claimed Trump knew about, contributed to her dismissal by President Donald Trump earlier this year, after which Lewandowski also left DHS.

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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro reportedly urged her office to investigate alleged kickbacks tied to DHS contracting, though the specific U.S. Attorney’s office leading the probe remains unclear.

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Critics have accused the Justice Department of targeting political allies of former President Donald Trump, arguing that the investigation reflects partisan overreach. Some observers also claim that DHS has historically shielded its own employees from scrutiny, suggesting institutional resistance to external accountability. These viewpoints contrast with the OIG’s referral and the DOJ’s decision to pursue a criminal inquiry.

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