WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Justice Department is reviewing allegations that Corey Lewandowski profited from his role at the Department of Homeland Security, according to a report.
Anonymous sources told The Wall Street Journal that the probe is based on the DHS inspector general’s referral, which shared its findings about Lewandowski’s tenure in recent days.
Lewandowski was then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s top adviser until they were both ousted in March, amid negative reports of infighting at the agency and their spending decisions.
During his time at DHS, Lewandowski allegedly asked several Middle Eastern countries to hire him on the side to assist with visa issues and other matters, the Journal previously reported. Also, Lewandowski or close associates allegedly signed off on nearly all DHS spending decisions for amounts exceeding $100,000, giving him oversight of department contractors.
Lewandowski has previously denied seeking foreign contracts while working for DHS or approving department contracts. Unnamed sources told the Journal that the DOJ’s inquiry is focused at least in part on contracting fraud.
A representative for Lewandowski said that the DOJ has not contacted the former adviser regarding any investigation.
“He denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity,” the representative said.
The DHS inspector general’s office told the Journal that it doesn’t discuss specific investigative matters or confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
When asked Thursday about the DOJ probe into Lewandowski, President Trump said, “All I know is, I want my people to be honest, and if they’re not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted.”
DHS Office of the Inspector General’s investigations discovered evidence that Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts, the Journal previously reported. The OIG had been weighing a criminal referral to the DOJ for months.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has received briefings on the investigation, according to anonymous sources.
Investigators examined many of the contracts that DHS signed during Noem’s tenure, and department officials were surprised at how involved Lewandowski was in the contracting process, some of the unnamed sources said. Lewandowski personally signed specific contracts, despite not technically serving as a full-time U.S. government official, according to anonymous sources who reviewed those documents or had knowledge of the approvals.
He was working with DHS in an unpaid capacity as a “Special Government Employee,” which is for outside officials with particular expertise to be brought into the government on a temporary and part-time basis, without forcing them to relinquish outside work or investments.
Lewandowski served as Trump’s first campaign manager for the 2016 presidential election and has maintained a close relationship with him over the years.