Justice Department investigating Republican operative Corey Lewandowski over alleged contract misconduct at DHS, sources say

CNN · CBS News and CBS News report that the Justice Department is investigating Corey Lewandowski, a Republican operative who acted as de facto chief of staff to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, over alleged misconduct tied to department contracts. Both cite sources familiar with the inquiry, and both say it grew out of a referral from the DHS inspector general's office. The Justice Department declined to comment, and no charges have been filed.

CBS News adds that one source described the suspicion as personal financial profit from contracts made during Noem's tenure, and says The Wall Street Journal broke the news. CNN says Washington, DC, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro told her staff to examine kickback claims, though it remains unclear which US attorney's office is in charge. Adam Trigg, Lewandowski's attorney, said no prosecutor has reached out to his client, who rejects the accusation.

President Donald Trump, asked about the matter Thursday, said he had only just heard of it and had not been briefed by Attorney General Todd Blanche. Dishonest aides, he said, should be prosecuted: "you have to pay a price."

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN · CBS News and CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN · CBS News → Also at CBS News →