DHS watchdog refers its Corey Lewandowski investigation to Justice Department for review

The Department of Homeland Security inspector general has referred its investigation of former “special government employee” Corey Lewandowski to the Justice Department, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

The DHS investigation stems from questions about how a $220 million contract for an advertising campaign featuring then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was awarded. At his Senate confirmation hearing, now-Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified in March that the department’s inspector general was looking into the contract.

That investigation then expanded, according to a source familiar with the matter, after NBC News reported that Lewandowski was alleged to have sought payment in exchange for protecting and growing the interests of a company, the GEO Group, that was seeking government contracts unrelated to the ad campaign.

In response to an inquiry from NBC News, Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, said Thursday, “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.”

The Wall Street Journal was first to report that the allegations are under review by the Justice Department.

Sources previously described to NBC News two meetings with the GEO Group at which Lewandowski asked the company to pay him, with one source saying he wanted a “success fee.” The GEO Group declined his requests.

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A spokesperson for Lewandowski in March denied that account of his interactions with the GEO Group. “This is absolutely false and did not happen — Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation from the Geo Group, at any time,” his representative said.

Before President Donald Trump fired her, Noem publicly admitted that she had personally approved the pricey contracts for the ad campaign but said Trump was aware of her involvement in their approval. After Noem was ousted, Trump told NBC News: “I wasn’t thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know about it.”

Lewandowski was a top aide to Noem who departed from DHS after she left.

Reporting about allegations that Lewandowski requested payment from companies with business before DHS emerged only after Noem was fired and after Lewandowski, who was previously a top Trump adviser and the first manager of his 2016 campaign, left the department.

Weeks before she was fired, Noem also faced scrutiny for her attempts to procure a $70 million luxury jet for the department she led.

Asked about the referral of Lewandowski’s case to the Justice Department, Trump said Thursday: “I heard something about it, but I don’t know exactly what it is. 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.”

“I will never do anything to stop the prosecution of someone who’s dishonest,” he added.