Kristi Noem is out as Homeland Security secretary following being grilled by Democrats and a few Republicans throughout two days of contentious congressional hearings. Among accusations of economic mismanagement and impropriety, Noem was questioned in regards to the nature of her relationship with a political aide, drawing the controversial Republican advisor into the highlight.
Noem questioned over attainable ‘sexual relationship’ with advisor Corey Lewandowski
“At any time throughout your tenure as director of Department of Homeland Security, have you ever had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?” Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., requested after prefacing the query with an extended checklist of scandals and alleged impropriety towards Corey Lewandowski, a former marketing campaign supervisor to President Donald Trump who has beforehand been accused of bodily assault and sexual misconduct in separate incidents. Noem expressed offense on the query, which she characterised as “tabloid rubbish,” and went on to explain Lewandowski as “a particular authorities worker who works for the White House” and as “an advisor and has no authority to make any selections.” Kamlager-Dove defended the query as a problem of judgment regarding Noem’s management and the opportunity of her having an improper relationship with a subordinate.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., once more introduced up the query of Noem’s relationship with Lewandowski.
“I need to give you a chance to reply on the report to Ms. Kamlager-Dove’s query,” Moskowitz stated.
Noem known as the road of questioning “ridiculousness,” including, “The tabloids that you’re quoting and referencing are insane.”
“This has been one thing that I’ve refuted for years, and I proceed to do this,” Noem stated in her most direct response to the query, whereas additionally accusing Moskowitz and the “socialist liberal left” who “assault conservative girls and also you say that we’re both silly or we’re sluts.” Moskowitz adopted up on questions from the day past, elevating accusations that Lewandowski has been improperly concerned with contract selections, in addition to firing an administrator on the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“I feel the nation wants a nationwide divorce from you on biblical grounds. I imply if Donald Trump was nonetheless Apprentice Trump, he would have a look at you, and he would notice you’re the weakest cupboard member, and he would fireplace you.”
Trump pronounces Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin will succeed Noem as Homeland Security secretary
Noem’s alleged relationship with Lewandowski comes within the context of bigger questions on her management and scrutiny over misconduct inside the Trump administration.
On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., would develop into Homeland Security secretary, efficient March 31.
He wrote, “I’m happy to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will develop into the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), efficient March 31, 2026. The present Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us nicely, and has had quite a few and spectacular outcomes (particularly on the Border!), shall be shifting to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative within the Western Hemisphere we’re asserting on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”
Rumors of an affair, stories of mismanagement and extra
Lewandowski served as a Trump marketing campaign supervisor in 2016 and has a historical past of publicly denigrating Trump’s political opponents, reminiscent of former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. His longstanding skilled and probably private relationship with Noem has been the topic of hypothesis for years. The Atlantic not too long ago revealed excerpts from a forthcoming e book by NBC News journalist Julia Ainsley, which states that Noem and Lewandowski’s “rumored affair has been broadly handled as an open secret in Washington,” and notes that “the pair flies across the nation collectively in a luxurious 737 with a non-public cabin within the again.” Lewandowski has been accused of improperly involving himself in DHS operations and making erratic selections; in a single incident, he allegedly fired a Coast Guard pilot throughout a visit for by chance leaving Noem’s blanket on a airplane, solely to reverse the choice as a result of the pilot was the one individual out there to fly the return journey.
Noem, in the meantime, has come below scrutiny not just for her relationship with Lewandowski however for her total administration of DHS, which oversees companies reminiscent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. She is seen as largely liable for conducting and defending Trump’s heavy-handed immigration crackdowns, which left two U.S. residents killed by immigration brokers in Minnesota, amongst different situations of violence.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., known as Noem’s management “a catastrophe” throughout Tuesday’s listening to. Noem, in the meantime, just isn’t the one Trump cupboard secretary dealing with accusations of an improper sexual relationship with a subordinate. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is below investigation for an alleged affair with a member of her safety element, whereas two of her prime aides are on depart pending investigation of improper spending, and Chavez-DeRemer’s husband has reportedly been banned from the division’s headquarters after he was alleged to have sexually assaulted two employees members.
About The Author
