Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was grilled Wednesday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing about her “sexual relationship” with top adviser Corey Lewandowski.
Democratic Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Noem, who was under oath during dramatic congressional testimony, whether he and Lewandowski had an affair.
Noting Lewandowski’s “unchecked” and “unconfirmed” power, Kamlager-Dove asked, “Did you have sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski at any time during your tenure as director of the Department of Homeland Security?”
Noem dodged the question several times without denying the affair.
Read also | The Minneapolis shooting is weighing heavily on the Trump administration, the latest poll shows
Kamlager-Dove pushed back and said, “It’s the easiest. You should want to answer that question.” “It’s about your judgment and decision making,” she said. “It’s about a conflict of interest. It’s about a national security risk.”
Noem refused to answer the question directly and accused the House of “distributing tabloid rubbish”.
“I’m shocked that today in this committee we’re going down and selling tabloid trash,” Noem said, calling the questioning an insult and saying Lewandowski had no decision-making authority.
“I would tell you he’s a special government employee who works for the White House. There are thousands of them in the federal government,” she said of Lewandowski.
Read also | ‘Americans died’: Fetterman calls on Trump to blow up Noah over Minneapolis
“Isn’t it?”
Democrats didn’t give up on the issue, and Rep. Jared Moskowitz got Noem to say the word “no” to deny the allegations. However, Noem again refused to deny the alleged romance in clear words.
“I really think you have to put the word ‘no’ on the record to clarify that,” Moskowitz said.
“I think the ridiculousness of this and the tabloids you quote and refer to is insane,” Noem said. “That’s something I’ve been debunking for years.
“Is it not?” Moskowitz said.
“You’re doing this,” Noem said, blasting him as a member of the “liberal left.”
“You say conservative women are stupid or whores. I’m neither,” she added.
Read also | Kristi Noem and Tim Walz’s heated argument on live TV about the killing of Alex Pretti
Who is Corey Lewandowski?
US Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff Corey Lewandowski (via REUTERS)
Corey Lewandowski is a special employee of the US government who is one of the principal advisers to the secretary.
Lewandowski was Donald Trump’s first campaign manager in 2016 and has long been one of his most vocal supporters. However, in March 2016, he was accused of manhandling Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields after Trump’s press conference.
He later became a key supporter of Noah when she was governor of South Dakota, helping her gain access to the former president’s political orbit.
When Noem took a position at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Lewandowski became a special government employee. This position is supposed to limit the number of days he is allowed to work in the department.
But he was a constant presence at Noah’s side, prompting questions about how many days he actually works and the nature of the pair’s relationship.
Lewandowski has been married to Alison Hardy since 2005.
Read also | Kristi Noem claims 10,000 illegal aliens have been arrested in Minneapolis
Is Kristi Noem Married?
Kristi Noem married Bryon Noem in 1992 in South Dakota. They have three children. Byron runs an insurance company in Bryant.
He was also present at the hearing when Kristi was asked about her sexual relationship with Lewandowski.
