WASHINGTON — A federal watchdog has been investigating a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} in Division of Homeland Safety contracts permitted underneath former Secretary Kristi Noem and her prime adviser Corey Lewandowski — and confronted intensive obstruction in its oversight makes an attempt, The Submit has realized.
DHS workers have been requested to protect all data amid the DHS Workplace of Inspector Basic’s (DHS OIG) ongoing probe into fiscal yr 2025 grants and contracts — together with no-bid pacts associated to a $220 million advert marketing campaign starring Noem, in response to three sources acquainted with the matter.
Investigators have additionally been “systematically obstructed” from different strains of inquiry — with Noem making an attempt to fireplace Inspector Basic Joseph Cuffari twice earlier than leaving her publish solely to be stopped by the White Home, in response to sources and data.
Congressional committee leaders had been knowledgeable this month that a type of ongoing investigations going through obstacles was a federal felony probe “with nationwide safety implications.”
Two sources famous that as a part of the contracts investigation, Cuffari’s workplace has contacted a number of individuals working at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the place Madison Sheahan — a prime Lewandowski ally — served as deputy director till this previous January, when she resigned to run for Congress in Ohio.
Home Homeland Safety Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) advised The Submit March 11 that his panel started “trying into a variety of contracts” shortly after Noem’s testimony earlier than Congress concerning the advert blitz, including that “Corey had his arms in lots and possibly shouldn’t have.”
Noem had insisted that each one agreements value greater than $100,000 wanted her private sign-off, in some circumstances delaying catastrophe reduction and even border wall funding whereas additionally giving the secretary’s workplace a larger diploma of management over the contracting course of.
Kara Voorhies, a former senior adviser to Noem who had a big diploma of management over contracting selections, is one other official being probed by congressional Republicans, NOTUS first reported March 13.
Noem and Lewandowski have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
The DHS OIG didn’t affirm or deny the existence or non-existence of the probe when contacted by The Submit Wednesday. A rep for Sheahan’s marketing campaign mentioned she had not been contacted by the watchdog concerning any investigation.
Reps for DHS and the White Home didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. The Each day Mail first reported on points of the contracting investigation.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and different GOPers ripped Noem throughout Capitol Hill hearings earlier this month for placing “the president in a really awkward spot” over the TV commercials that featured her prominently.
One of many taxpayer-funded advertisements confirmed the previous South Dakota governor on horseback in entrance of Mount Rushmore promising an “American dream … as large as these infinite skies” to immigrants getting into the US legally — and deportation for these coming illegally.
In keeping with a partial bill obtained by Senate Democrats, the American public was charged $20,000 for horse leases and $3,781 on hair and make-up, amongst different prices.
Ben Yoho, who runs The Technique Group, which was subcontracted for the Mount Rushmore shoot, mentioned in a press release that his agency “was engaged by Protected America Media to offer video and audio manufacturing” work that amounted to only $226,137.17 of the $220 million.
“As well as, TSG acquired a signing payment from Protected America Media that was absolutely documented and disclosed to Congress,” added Yoho, who’s married to ex-DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. “This info was swiftly communicated to deal with inaccuracies in public reporting and make sure the report precisely displays the scope of our work.”
Protected America Media was integrated days earlier than taking $143 million as a part of a DHS contract for the advertisements. One other agency, Folks Who Suppose, acquired a $77 million contract.
Noem advised Kennedy that President Trump “tasked” her “with getting the message out” that unlawful immigrants wanted to self-deport — however he later denied having approved the advert contracts, telling Reuters, “I by no means knew something about it.”
Trump fired Noem after her back-to-back hearings within the Senate and Home, throughout which lawmakers pressed the Cupboard official for solutions concerning the advert marketing campaign.
Lewandowski, who left DHS shortly after Noem, had stored prime aides on a brief leash and exerted management over the approval of a number of departmental contracts, purportedly asking in not less than one case for extra funds to himself, NBC Information reported.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the highest Democrat on the Home Homeland Safety Committee, claimed in a Wednesday listening to that Lewandowski had “used his place and shut relationship with Noem to steer contracts and sweetheart offers to his cronies in a pay-to-play scheme that has him underneath investigation.”
Lewandowski has described himself as an “unpaid volunteer” for Trump’s White Home.
The “remaining straw” for Trump in letting Noem go, nevertheless, was her failure to disclaim having “sexual relations” with Lewandowski when testifying earlier than Home lawmakers, sources famous. The secretary has been married to her husband Bryon for 34 years and the couple have three youngsters.
Noem has since been moved to the State Division to develop into Particular Envoy for the Defend of the Americas following the affirmation of former Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to guide DHS.
She has introduced a number of allies over from DHS, together with former appearing basic counsel Joseph Mazzara.
Lewandowski — who bragged he might “do regardless of the f–okay I would like” as a result of “DJT will pardon me” to a Submit supply final yr — has since exited authorities service.
“By no means mentioned that. By no means requested for a pardon and haven’t any purpose to obtain one,” Lewandowski mentioned earlier this month when requested about that boast.
