Justice Department Reviewing Allegations About Corey Lewandowski’s DHS Role
The Justice Department is reportedly reviewing allegations that Trump ally Corey Lewandowski used his Homeland Security role for personal financial gain. He has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is reviewing allegations that Corey Lewandowski, a longtime political adviser to President Donald Trump, used his former role at the Department of Homeland Security for personal financial gain, according to reports published October 22 by CBS News and Reuters.
The inquiry reportedly followed a referral from the DHS Office of Inspector General. CBS News, citing two people familiar with the matter, said investigators are examining allegations connected to contracts established while Kristi Noem led the department. Reuters separately reported that Lewandowski faces a criminal investigation related to his DHS tenure. No public charging document had been filed as of early October 23. Inspectors general conduct independent oversight within federal agencies and may refer potential legal issues to prosecutors for review. A referral does not determine that a charge is warranted. Neither the DHS watchdog nor the Justice Department had publicly released the reported referral, limiting the details available for independent review.
Lewandowski has not been charged with a crime. His attorney, Adam Trigg, denied that he committed wrongdoing and told CBS News that Lewandowski had not been contacted by the Justice Department. The department declined to comment to CBS. Those points leave the matter at the investigative stage: a referral or inquiry is not proof that a crime occurred, and prosecutors may close an investigation without bringing charges.
CBS reported that Lewandowski served as a senior adviser and acted as Noem’s de facto chief of staff at DHS until both departed the department in March 2026. The reported review focuses on whether he used that position to benefit financially through department contracting. The publicly available reports did not identify a criminal charge, disclose the full scope of the inspector general’s findings or say that prosecutors had reached a conclusion.
The contracting backdrop has drawn scrutiny beyond the allegations involving Lewandowski. During Noem’s tenure, contracts, grants and other funding obligations worth more than $100,000 required her written approval, CBS reported. Current and former officials had complained that the process created backlogs, including delays involving disaster-relief funding. That policy provides context for the reported inquiry but does not by itself establish misconduct by Lewandowski or anyone else.
Asked about the reports before leaving the White House on October 22, Trump said he wanted people in his administration to be honest and that dishonest conduct should be prosecuted. CBS quoted him as saying, “If he’s honest that’s good. If he’s not honest, you have to pay a price.” The White House also posted video of Trump’s departure exchange with reporters.
Lewandowski has been part of Trump’s political orbit for more than a decade. He managed Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign during its early phase and later worked in support of Trump’s 2020 and 2024 campaigns. His role at DHS placed a veteran political operative near the department’s leadership and contracting process, making the reported inspector-general referral a significant development for the administration.
The next consequential steps would include any public confirmation by the Justice Department, contact between investigators and Lewandowski, or the filing of charges. Unless one of those occurs, the available record remains a set of reported allegations, a denial from Lewandowski’s lawyer and no announced prosecutorial decision.