WASHINGTON — A federal watchdog has been investigating a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in Division of Homeland Safety contracts authorised below former Secretary Kristi Noem and her high adviser Corey Lewandowski — and confronted intensive obstruction in its oversight makes an attempt, The Publish has discovered.
DHS workers have been requested to protect all information amid the DHS Workplace of Inspector Normal’s (DHS OIG) ongoing probe into fiscal 12 months 2025 grants and contracts — together with no-bid pacts associated to a $220 million advert marketing campaign starring Noem, in response to three sources aware of the matter.
Investigators have additionally been “systematically obstructed” from different traces of inquiry — with Noem making an attempt to fireplace Inspector Normal Joseph Cuffari twice earlier than leaving her submit solely to be stopped by the White Home, in response to sources and information.
Congressional committee leaders have been knowledgeable this month that a kind of ongoing investigations dealing with obstacles was a federal prison probe “with nationwide safety implications.”
Two sources famous that as a part of the contracts investigation, Cuffari’s workplace has contacted a number of folks working at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the place Madison Sheahan — a high 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) informed The Publish March 11 that his panel started “trying into a whole lot of contracts” shortly after Noem’s testimony earlier than Congress relating to the advert blitz, including that “Corey had his palms in rather a lot and doubtless mustn’t have.”
Noem had insisted that each one agreements price 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 better 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 verify or deny the existence or non-existence of the probe when contacted by The Publish Wednesday. A rep for Sheahan’s marketing campaign mentioned she had not been contacted by the watchdog relating to any investigation.
Reps for DHS and the White Home didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. The Every day Mail first reported on features 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 ads 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 huge as these limitless skies” to immigrants getting into the US legally — and deportation for these coming illegally.
In line 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 an announcement that his agency “was engaged by Secure America Media to supply video and audio manufacturing” work that amounted to only $226,137.17 of the $220 million.
“As well as, TSG obtained a signing price from Secure America Media that was totally 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 file precisely displays the scope of our work.”
Secure America Media was included days earlier than taking $143 million as a part of a DHS contract for the advertisements. One other agency, Individuals Who Assume, obtained a $77 million contract.
Noem informed 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 saved high aides on a brief leash and exerted management over the approval of a number of departmental contracts, purportedly asking in at the very least one case for added 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 below investigation.”
Lewandowski has described himself as an “unpaid volunteer” for Trump’s White Home.
The “last straw” for Trump in letting Noem go, nonetheless, 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 turn into Particular Envoy for the Protect 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 normal counsel Joseph Mazzara.
Lewandowski — who bragged he may “do regardless of the f–ok I would like” as a result of “DJT will pardon me” to a Publish supply final 12 months — 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.
