A new corruption controversy is engulfing Corey Lewandowski, the Trump loyalist who once operated as one of the influential unelected figures inside the DHS. An investigation published this week claims Lewandowski tried to turn his government access into a paycheck, pitching foreign governments on private consulting deals while he was supposed to be volunteering his time to the department.
Corey Lewandowski under fire for allegedly trying to sell government services for profit
The Wall Street Journal’s reporting, published on September 8, alleges that Lewandowski personally approached senior officials from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates with an offer: hire him privately, and he could help resolve issues that fell under DHS jurisdiction, including visa matters. Both governments reportedly passed on the arrangement, with some officials reportedly puzzled as to why they’d need his help when they already had direct lines to top administration figures.
The allegations strike at the heart of growing corruption concerns surrounding Corey Lewandowski’s time at DHS. He held the title of “special government employee,” a designation typically reserved for short-term advisers, which technically allowed him to run private business ventures on the side. Critics argue that status became a loophole, especially given how much control he reportedly had over the department’s contracting process, including deals worth billions of dollars.
Lewandowski’s outsized footprint at DHS was reportedly closely intertwined with his relationship with Kristi Noem, the department’s former secretary, whom Trump removed from the post in March. Noem and Lewandowski have long faced speculation about a romantic relationship, something both have repeatedly denied. The two reportedly traveled together extensively, including trips through the Middle East, even as speculation about the nature of their bond followed them.
The DHS Office of Inspector General is now examining Lewandowski’s conduct during his tenure and is reportedly considering whether to send a criminal referral to the Justice Department. Both the White House and current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin have already been briefed on where that inquiry stands.
Lewandowski has denied any wrongdoing. “I’m tremendously proud of my work as a volunteer. Remain confident that the facts and not anonymous accusations will ultimately speak for themselves,” he wrote on X, dismissing the Journal’s report as fiction built on unnamed sources.
