The Department of Justice is reportedly looking into allegations that former Trump administration official Corey Lewandowski used his government position to profit personally.
According to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter, the Justice Department is examining claims that Lewandowski profited off his top position at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Lewandowski served as a top adviser at DHS under former Secretary Kristi Noem. The two left their posts in March amid mounting scrutiny over internal conflicts at the agency and its spending decisions.
The inquiry stems from a referral from the DHS inspector general, which shared its findings about Lewandowski’s time at the department in recent days, the Journal reported.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on the story when asked by the Daily Caller.
The Caller also reached out to Lewandowski for comment, and his attorney, Adam Trigg, pushed back on the report.
“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,” Trigg said.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the inquiry when asked about it Thursday, making clear where he stands on honesty among those who serve in his administration.
“All I know is, I want my people to be honest, and if they’re not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted,” the president said.
The investigation follows earlier reporting on Lewandowski’s conduct at the department. In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that the DHS inspector general had uncovered evidence suggesting Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts.
The agency’s internal watchdog had also allegedly spent months weighing whether to refer the matter to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution.
That referral has now reportedly been made, according to the Journal’s latest report, putting the matter in the hands of federal prosecutors at the Justice Department.
Lewandowski’s activities during his time at DHS have drawn scrutiny on more than one front. A separate Wall Street Journal report said that while serving as an adviser to then-Secretary Noem, Lewandowski also sought contracts with multiple Gulf States on behalf of foreign governments.
The allegations add to the cloud that has hung over Lewandowski and Noem’s tenure at the department. Noem and Lewandowski have also faced rumors of an extramarital affair.
For now, the central questions surrounding the case remain unresolved. The Justice Department has declined to comment, DHS has not responded, and Lewandowski, through his attorney, has denied any wrongdoing and said he has not been contacted by the Justice Department about any investigation.
What is clear is that the DHS inspector general’s findings have now landed at the Justice Department, and the president has signaled that anyone in his orbit who is not honest should face prosecution.
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