DOJ Probes Lewandowski Over Alleged DHS Contract Misconduct

WHO:

Alternet - Lewandowski served as President Trump’s first campaign manager in 2016 and maintained a close relationship with Trump, who valued his loyalty, according to the Wall Street Journal.

CNN - Lewandowski’s attorney, Adam Trigg, said Lewandowski had not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding an investigation and “denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity.”

Alternet - The Wall Street Journal reported that Lewandowski told people close to him he expected President Trump would pardon him if he faced a criminal case.

Alternet - Corey Lewandowski, a Trump ally and former 2016 Trump campaign manager, served as an adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Alternet, citing the Wall Street Journal, described him as a top adviser; CNN said he was viewed as Noem’s gatekeeper and worked as her de facto chief of staff.

CNN - Lewandowski was initially designated a special government employee, a role intended to cover a limited number of days. CNN said his combination of senior DHS functions and that designation was uncharted territory, according to people familiar with the arrangement.

CNN - Lewandowski’s attorney, Adam Trigg, said Lewandowski had not been contacted by the Justice Department and “denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity.”

CNN - The DHS Inspector General involved in the probe is Joseph Cuffari.

CNN - Washington, DC, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told officials in her office she wanted investigators to examine claims of kickbacks connected to DHS contracting, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

WHAT:

Alternet - The Journal reported that the DHS inspector general shared findings about Lewandowski’s tenure with the Justice Department in recent days.

CNN - Washington, DC, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro wanted investigators to examine claims of kickbacks connected to DHS contracting.

ABC News US - President Trump said he had “heard something about” the Justice Department investigation into Corey Lewandowski.

CNN - Critics accused the Justice Department of improperly targeting President Trump’s political enemies and accused DHS of protecting its own employees from scrutiny.

NY Post - President Trump said, “If they’re not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted.”

Alternet - The Wall Street Journal described the Justice Department inquiry as one of the first investigations in Trump’s second term into a figure so close to Trump.

Alternet - The Wall Street Journal reported that a Justice Department unit focused on public-official fraud and corruption investigations had shrunk to two prosecutors after roughly two dozen others left the department or transferred to other roles.

CNN - The Justice Department declined to comment, and DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alternet - The Justice Department opened an inquiry into allegations that Lewandowski used his DHS position for personal financial gain. The inquiry followed a criminal referral from the DHS inspector general.

CNN - Prosecutors are investigating alleged contract misconduct at DHS, including Lewandowski’s role. The Justice Department declined to comment, and the U.S. Attorney’s office leading the investigation was not clear.

Alternet - The Wall Street Journal reported that Lewandowski asked several Middle Eastern countries to hire him for visa-related and other assistance. Lewandowski has denied seeking foreign contracts while in government or participating in DHS contract approvals.

Alternet - Investigators examined contracts signed during Noem’s tenure and found Lewandowski more involved in contracting than expected. He personally signed some contracts despite not technically being a full-time government official.

CNN - Noem required every DHS contract and grant exceeding $100,000 to receive her approval. She defended the policy as a way to reduce waste; multiple DHS officials considered it unusual and unnecessary.

CNN - Noem’s handling of DHS contracts was one factor in her removal; CNN cited her claim that Trump knew about a $220 million advertising campaign prominently featuring her.

Alternet - The Wall Street Journal reported Lewandowski or close associates signed off on nearly all DHS spending decisions over $100,000, giving him visibility into contractors and the ability to hold contracts up.

CNN - Cuffari told Congress that DHS leadership had obstructed some of his work.

WHERE:

CNN - The contracting investigation concerns the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The lead U.S. Attorney’s office has not been identified.

WHEN:

Alternet - Investigators with the DHS inspector general’s office found evidence in July that Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts.

CNN - DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari complained to Congress in early March that Homeland Security leadership had obstructed some of his work.

Alternet - The inspector general’s office found evidence in July that Lewandowski may have been involved in improper contract awards and had been weighing a criminal referral for months.

CNN - Noem and Lewandowski left DHS after Trump fired Noem.

WHY:

CNN - The referral was described as an unusual move for an administration hesitant to criminally investigate its own members.

Alternet - The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department had curtailed public-official fraud and corruption prosecutions amid criticism from Trump and other administration officials that such cases weaponized the justice system for political ends.

Alternet - The inquiry followed inspector general findings about Lewandowski’s role in DHS contracting.

CNN - Investigators were awaiting the results of the inspector general’s examination of DHS contracting practices during Noem’s and Lewandowski’s tenures.

HOW:

Alternet - Lewandowski personally signed specific DHS contracts despite not technically serving as a full-time U.S. government official, according to the Wall Street Journal.

CNN - Noem ordered every DHS contract and grant exceeding $100,000 to cross her desk for approval.

CNN - The investigation followed a criminal referral from the DHS Inspector General’s office, which examined agency contracting during Noem’s and Lewandowski’s tenures.

Alternet - Lewandowski’s expected access to contract decisions stemmed from his reported involvement in spending approvals and his ability to delay contracts.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 20:01 UTC)

The Justice Department is investigating whether Corey Lewandowski used his role at Homeland Security for personal financial gain, after the department’s inspector general referred the matter for possible criminal investigation. Investigators examined contracts awarded during Kristi Noem’s tenure and found Lewandowski more involved in contracting than expected, including personally signing some agreements. Noem required her approval for every DHS contract and grant above $100,000, while Lewandowski or associates reportedly signed off on nearly all spending decisions above that threshold. Lewandowski, a close Trump ally and his 2016 campaign manager, served as a senior adviser to Noem under a limited-days special government employee designation. His lawyer says the Justice Department has not contacted him and that he denies wrongdoing. Trump said he had heard about the investigation. The inquiry is unusual in examining someone close to Trump, while critics have raised concerns about political targeting and oversight at DHS.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 16:14 UTC)

The Justice Department is investigating alleged misconduct in Homeland Security contracting, including whether Corey Lewandowski used his position for personal financial gain. The inquiry followed a criminal referral from the department’s inspector general, Joseph Cuffari, whose office examined contracts awarded during Lewandowski’s and then-Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenures. Noem required her approval for contracts and grants worth more than $100,000, and investigators reportedly found Lewandowski more involved in contracting than expected, including signing some contracts. Lewandowski’s attorney, Adam Trigg, says his client has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies wrongdoing. Lewandowski has also denied seeking foreign contracts while in government or taking part in contract approvals. President Trump said he had heard about the investigation and stated that people who are not honest should be prosecuted. Critics have accused the Justice Department of political targeting, while the department has declined to comment.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 09:04 UTC)

The Justice Department is investigating whether Corey Lewandowski used his role at the Department of Homeland Security for personal financial gain, following a criminal referral from the department’s inspector general. Investigators are examining alleged misconduct in DHS contracting during the tenure of Secretary Kristi Noem, where Lewandowski served as an adviser and was described as a gatekeeper with influence over spending decisions. He reportedly signed some contracts despite being designated a special government employee, a role intended for limited service. Lewandowski denies seeking foreign contracts or taking part in contract approvals, and his attorney says he has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies wrongdoing. President Trump said he had heard about the investigation and warned that people who are not honest must be prosecuted. Lewandowski reportedly told associates he expected Trump would pardon him if he faced a criminal case.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 00:07 UTC)

The Justice Department is investigating whether Corey Lewandowski used his role at Homeland Security for personal financial gain, including in agency contracting. The inquiry followed a criminal referral from Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, whose office examined contracts during the tenures of Lewandowski and then-Secretary Kristi Noem. Lewandowski, a Trump ally and former campaign manager, served as an adviser and was viewed as a powerful gatekeeper at the department. Investigators found he was more involved in contracts than expected, and he personally signed some despite not being a full-time official. Noem required her approval for contracts and grants over $100,000, a policy officials considered unusual. Lewandowski’s attorney says he has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies wrongdoing. Critics accuse the administration of political targeting, while others say DHS has shielded employees from scrutiny. Trump said dishonest officials should be prosecuted.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 22:12 UTC)

The Justice Department is investigating whether Corey Lewandowski used his role at the Department of Homeland Security for personal financial gain, following a criminal referral from the agency’s inspector general. Investigators are examining alleged misconduct in DHS contracting during the tenure of former Secretary Kristi Noem. Lewandowski, a close Trump ally and former campaign manager, served as an adviser to Noem and was viewed as a gatekeeper, though he was initially designated a special government employee. He reportedly signed some contracts and had visibility into spending decisions above $100,000, which Noem required to receive her approval. Lewandowski denies seeking foreign contracts while in government or taking part in DHS contract approvals. His attorney says he has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies wrongdoing. Lewandowski reportedly told people close to him he expected Trump would pardon him if charged. The department has declined to comment.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 21:11 UTC)

The Justice Department is investigating allegations that Corey Lewandowski used his position at the Department of Homeland Security for personal financial gain. The inquiry followed a criminal referral from DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, whose office examined contracting during Kristi Noem’s tenure as secretary. Lewandowski, a Trump ally and former campaign manager, served as an adviser to Noem and was described as a gatekeeper who acted as her de facto chief of staff. Though initially designated a special government employee, he reportedly took on senior responsibilities and personally signed some contracts. Investigators are also examining claims of kickbacks and Lewandowski’s role in contract awards. Noem required her approval for DHS contracts and grants exceeding $100,000, a policy some officials considered unusual. Lewandowski’s attorney says he has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies wrongdoing. Lewandowski has also denied seeking foreign contracts or participating in DHS contract approvals.