Former Special Government Employee Corey Lewandowski could be facing a criminal referral amid a federal watchdog’s investigation into Department of Homeland contracting during fired former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure, according to a report.
The DHS Office of Inspector General’s (DHS OIG) has found evidence Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding DHS contracts and is weighing sending a referral to the Justice Department for potential prosecution, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
The probe is ongoing, and a referral isn’t imminent, the outlet noted.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was tapped by President Trump in March to replace Noem, has cooperated with investigators and has briefed White House officials on some of the probe’s findings, according to the Journal.
Lewandowski, through a representative, denied issuing contracts while at DHS and told the outlet he hadn’t been contacted by investigators.
The White House referred The Post to DHS for comment. The department did not respond to a request for comment.
The Post previously reported that DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari was investigating hundreds of millions of dollars in DHS contracts — including no-bid pacts related to a $220 million ad campaign starring Noem – approved under the former secretary and Lewandowski, who was Noem’s top adviser.
Cuffari has also been auditing a $1 billion purchase of warehouses DHS intended to convert to migrant detention centers, according to The Journal. The initiative was scrapped and the warehouses, purchased above market value, have since been sold off.
Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager, held an extensive role at DHS that included controlling staffing and contracting decisions.
He personally signed specific contracts, according to the Journal, despite not technically being a full-time government official.
Noem has allegedly carried on a years-long affair with Lewandowski, which she refused to deny during a Capitol Hill hearing a day before she was axed.
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