Overview
- Ranking Democrats Bennie Thompson, Robert Garcia, and Rick Larsen issued a preservation notice directing DHS to retain all communications and internal records related to Corey Lewandowski.
- The lawmakers asked Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to review Lewandowski’s role and requested his financial disclosures and any recusals tied to potential conflicts of interest.
- Their letter alleges Lewandowski acted as a “shadow chief of staff” to then‑Secretary Kristi Noem, potentially exceeding the authority of a Special Government Employee.
- Contemporaneous reporting cites complaints from at least four companies about possible pay‑to‑play pressure tied to DHS work, including allegations of steering vendors to Lewandowski‑linked consultants; Lewandowski and a named intermediary deny the claims.
- The inquiry intersects with scrutiny of a roughly $220 million DHS advertising campaign and other contracting decisions, and the committees requested an initial update from the inspector general by April 1.