Democrats Launch New Inquiry Into Corey Lewandowski

WASHINGTON — Democrats connected nan House Oversight Committee person launched a caller enquiry into outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s apical aide, Corey Lewandowski, who allegedly sought individual payments from contractors, arsenic was outlined successful an NBC News investigation past week.

On Monday, House Oversight Democrats sent a missive to nan backstage situation institution GEO Group asking it to disclose specifications of meetings and conversations Lewandowski had pinch nan patient some earlier nan modulation play aft President Donald Trump was elected successful 2024 and during 2025.

Lewandowski denied allegations he sought payments successful speech for favorable statement decisions. GEO Group did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

GEO Group is nan largest proprietor of detention centers successful nan United States, and nan institution plays a awesome domiciled successful Trump’s wide deportation of unauthorized immigrants. The patient holds much than a cardinal dollars worthy of contracts pinch DHS.

“Corey Lewandowski appears to person engaged successful deep-rooted corruption astatine nan Department of Homeland Security, and this monolithic pay-to-play strategy should interest each Americans. We request answers straight from immoderate companies Lewandowski was soliciting. Oversight Democrats are going to guidelines retired this corruption astatine DHS, and we won’t extremity until there’s accountability,” Rep. Robert Garcia, nan apical Democrat connected nan committee, said successful a statement.

The NBC News investigation past week revealed that GEO Group and respective different companies successful authorities contracting person complained to officials successful Trump’s soul circle that Lewandowski, arsenic a typical authorities employee, has straight aliases indirectly stood to personally profit from nan DHS contracting process, according to 4 elder White House officials, a erstwhile White House charismatic and a personification acquainted pinch nan conversations.

When Trump won nan predetermination successful 2024, GEO Group seemed well-positioned for a windfall of contracts and its banal value soared to a grounds precocious of $35.05 successful nan days earlier nan inauguration. But erstwhile contracts did not materialize astatine nan expected amount, its banal value fell to $16.43 arsenic of mid-March. Two contracts shrank aft it allegedly declined to salary Lewandowski a interest for caller contracts, and sources opportunity GEO Group believes it was a consequence of not agreeing to Lewandowski’s solicitations.

Lewandowski has been serving astatine DHS arsenic a typical authorities worker since January 2025. The DHS Office of General Counsel told NBC News that Lewandowski submitted a financial disclosure shape to nan agency but because of his position arsenic a typical authorities employee, it is not required to beryllium publically released.

One ineligible master told NBC News that if a typical authorities worker sought costs from a institution successful speech for affirmative statement awards, it would raise “bright reddish flags of illegality.”

The effort by House Oversight Democrats is portion of a bid of caller oversight efforts being taken by legislature Democrats and watchdogs successful nan aftermath of Noem’s firing.

The DHS inspector wide is investigating nan awarding of a $220 cardinal advertizing statement without afloat and unfastened title to 2 companies. One of those companies subcontracted activity to a patient called The Strategy Group that worked pinch Noem erstwhile she was politician of South Dakota. The CEO of that patient is joined to nan erstwhile spokesperson for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin.

Republicans person raised questions arsenic well. During Noem’s past legislature appearance, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked her why nan size of nan advertizing statement was truthful large. “A quarter, a 5th to a 4th of a cardinal dollars successful payer money, erstwhile we’re scratching for each penny and we’re fighting complete rescission packages, I conscionable can’t work together with, Madam Secretary, you still moving those ads,” he said.

Noem responded, “Senator, I did not person thing to do pinch picking those contractors. No politicals astatine nan Department of Homeland Security did.”