Justice Department investigates former DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski

The Justice Department is investigating allegations that Corey Lewandowski used his position as a senior adviser at the Department of Homeland Security for financial gain, after the department’s inspector general referred its findings to federal prosecutors, according to CBS News and NBC News.

Lewandowski, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump and a top aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has not been charged with a crime. His attorney, Adam Trigg, said Lewandowski had not been contacted by the Justice Department and denied wrongdoing.

“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,” Trigg said in a statement provided to both news organizations.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that the allegations were under Justice Department review. CBS News, citing two people familiar with the investigation, reported that the department opened its probe after receiving the inspector general’s referral in recent weeks. The Justice Department declined to comment to CBS News.

The DHS inquiry began with questions about how a $220 million contract was awarded for an advertising campaign featuring Noem, NBC News reported. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified at his Senate confirmation hearing in March that the department’s inspector general was examining the contract.

The inquiry later expanded after NBC News reported allegations that Lewandowski sought payment from GEO Group, a company pursuing government contracts unrelated to the advertising campaign. Sources previously described to NBC News two meetings at which Lewandowski asked GEO Group to pay him. One source said he sought a “success fee.” GEO Group declined the requests, NBC News reported.

Lewandowski’s representative rejected that account in March. “This is absolutely false and did not happen — Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the Geo Group, at any time,” the representative said.

One person familiar with the investigation told CBS News that allegations of personal financial gain were connected to contracts established during Noem’s tenure. Before Trump fired her, Noem said publicly that she had personally approved the advertising contracts and that Trump knew of her involvement. Trump subsequently told NBC News he had not known about the spending: “I wasn’t thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know about it.”

Lewandowski left DHS after Noem’s departure, NBC News reported. CBS News described him as her de facto chief of staff and said both left the department in March. Lewandowski managed Trump’s campaign early in the 2016 race and also played roles in his 2020 and 2024 campaigns, according to CBS News.

Asked Thursday about the referral, Trump said he had heard of it but did not know the details. “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,” he said.

CBS News has reported that some senior DHS officials privately complained about Noem’s and Lewandowski’s handling of contracts and operations. Noem required her written approval for contracts, grants and funding obligations above $100,000; some officials said the policy created backlogs, including for disaster relief funding.