Blumenthal demands perjury probe into Noem over Lewandowski's DHS role: 'Firing doesn't absolve her'
WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Sen Richard Blumenthal said he will seek a perjury investigation into former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, alleging that she lied to Congress about the role her senior adviser Corey Lewandowski played in approving contracts at the Department of Homeland Security.
Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said on Friday, March 6, that he planned to push the panel to examine whether Noem committed perjury during a hearing earlier this week when she denied that Lewandowski had any involvement in DHS spending decisions.
“Her firing doesn’t absolve her or relieve her of potential liability for perjury,” Blumenthal said. “We are going to pursue an investigation of the evidence that she lied, because it relates to corruption in the administration,” he added.
Dispute over Corey Lewandowski’s role
At Tuesday’s hearing, Blumenthal pressed Noem about Lewandowski’s involvement in approving contracts. She described him as a “special government employee” working for the White House and rejected the suggestion that he had a contracting role.
When Blumenthal characterized Lewandowski’s position as connected to approving contracts, Noem replied, “No.”
But in a letter sent the next day, Blumenthal argued DHS records suggested otherwise, saying Lewandowski had personally signed off on contracts and that staff within the department treated his approval as authorization to proceed.
“There are criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully making materially false statements or representations to Congress,” Blumenthal wrote.
Scrutiny over political consulting contract
Federal procurement records reviewed by media outlets showed that last year DHS awarded a $250,000 public affairs contract to American Made Media Company, a newly formed Republican political consultancy with close professional ties to Lewandowski.
The contract posting appeared on September 26 with bids due the next day, an unusually short timeline. The requirements also drew attention for stating that applicants should have “an established track record of promoting Trump administration policies in the media.”
Four days after the posting went live, the contract was awarded to the firm.
The company is led by veterans of President Donald Trump's campaign operations, several of whom previously worked alongside Lewandowski during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Public records showed no prior government contracting history for the firm.
Separate reporting by Politico last year also described Lewandowski as helping clear six-figure contracts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which operates under DHS.
With Republicans controlling the Senate, Blumenthal cannot issue subpoenas or compel testimony without approval from Subcommittee Chair Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Johnson has not indicated he intends to pursue such a step.
Still, Blumenthal said Democrats planned to continue gathering evidence by requesting documents, holding public forums, and encouraging whistleblowers to come forward.
