Kristi Noem Misled Congress About Top Aide’s Role in DHS Contracts
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The Bottom Line
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem misled Congress about her unpaid aide's role in approving DHS contracts.
How This Affects You
This raises concerns about potential misuse of taxpayer money as an unauthorized individual may be approving significant government contracts.
AI Summary
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem misled Congress regarding her top aide Corey Lewandowski's role in approving DHS contracts, according to ProPublica and department officials. Noem explicitly denied Lewandowski's involvement in contract approval to a Senate committee, but internal records indicate he personally approved a multimillion-dollar equipment contract and routinely signs off on large expenditures. Lewandowski, who is not a paid government employee, is typically the last signatory before Noem on contract routing sheets. This raises questions about the veracity of Noem's testimony and the influence of an unpaid aide on critical government spending. Making false statements to Congress is a federal crime, although rarely prosecuted.
What's Being Done
ProPublica and department officials report that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem misled Congress about her aide's role.
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