Justice Department prosecutors are investigating the Department of Homeland Security’s contracting activities in the first year of the second Trump administration and scrutinizing Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump ally who served as ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s top aide, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News.
The investigation is in its early stages, sources said, and followed a referral to the department regarding Lewandowski’s conduct from DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari.
“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,” said Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski in a statement provided to ABC News.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
The probe marks a rare instance of Trump’s Justice Department examining conduct of an ally of the president.
When asked by reporters Thursday about the probe into Lewandowski, President Donald Trump said he did not know about the specifics of the investigation.
“All I know is I want my people to be honest,” Trump said. “And if they’re not gonna be honest they have to be prosecuted. I don’t know about specifically, but — because I view if people are not honest they’re stealing from me.”
Lewandowski served as a special government employee during Noem’s tenure effectively acting as her chief of staff as the department came under scrutiny for its controversial spending practices through costly government contracts.
Noem and Lewandowski were ousted in March following a congressional hearing where Noem claimed President Trump knew of her decision to launch a $220 million digital ad campaign for the department with videos that featured her prominently.
Both have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the DOJ’s probe of Lewandowski.
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