DHS watchdog refers Corey Lewandowski probe to Justice Department
A Homeland Security watchdog has sent its probe of Corey Lewandowski to the Justice Department, NBC News and Fox News reported. Fox News said the Justice Department has opened an investigation. His lawyer said he has not been contacted and denies any wrongdoing.
The Homeland Security inspector general has sent its probe of Corey Lewandowski to the Justice Department, according to NBC News and Fox News.
NBC News said the watchdog referred the case for review, citing a person familiar with the probe. Fox News called it a criminal referral and said the department has launched an investigation, citing a source. The Wall Street Journal was first to report that the department was reviewing the claims, NBC News and Fox News said.
Lewandowski was a top aide to Kristi Noem when she led the department, NBC News and Fox News reported. NBC News said he was a "special government employee." He was also Donald Trump's first campaign manager in 2016, the outlets reported.
The probe began with questions about how a $220 million contract was awarded for an ad campaign that featured Noem, NBC News reported. It then grew after NBC News reported claims that Lewandowski sought payment to help a company, the GEO Group, that wanted government contracts. Sources described two meetings in which he asked the company to pay him, NBC News reported. One source said he wanted a "success fee." The GEO Group turned down his requests, NBC News said.
"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," said Adam Trigg, his lawyer, according to NBC News and Fox News.
Lewandowski called the Wall Street Journal's report "another example of the kind of anonymous-source, politically driven reporting that Americans have seen time and again," Fox News reported.
Asked about the probe outside the White House, Trump said he had "heard something about it," Fox News reported. "All I know is I want my people to be honest," Trump said, according to Fox News. "If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted," he added.
What we know: The DHS inspector general has sent its Lewandowski probe to the Justice Department.
What we don't: Whether anyone will be charged, and what the probe will focus on.
Where outlets agree NBC News and Fox News report that the DHS inspector general sent its Lewandowski probe to the Justice Department and that his lawyer says he denies any wrongdoing.
Where they differ NBC News reports that the inspector general referred the probe to the Justice Department for review, while Fox News reports that the department has launched an investigation.