By Jana Winter and Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Corey Lewandowski, a former political adviser to President Donald Trump and top aide at the Department of Homeland Security, is under criminal investigation over allegations he profited off his role in the US government, three US officials and a fourth person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
The probe began with a criminal referral to the Justice Department from the internal watchdog at DHS, according to the four people.
The DHS Inspector General's Office has been investigating Lewandowski's involvement in the handling of certain government contracts, according to one of the people, a DHS official.
A lawyer for Lewandowski, Adam Trigg, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The investigation was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, which quoted Lewandowski's lawyer as saying that his client denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
DOJ has not yet issued subpoenas or other legal demands in the criminal investigation, according to one of the people. All four of the people spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Justice Department under Trump has investigated several prominent critics of the president, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, but investigations of people close to Trump have been rare. The department has also moved to dismiss several existing cases involving Trump allies, including supporters charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Asked about media reports on the investigation, Trump told reporters that he did not know the specifics of the investigation, but said, "I want my people to be honest."
"And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do," Trump added.
Lewandowski served as a top aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her tenure leading DHS. Trump fired Noem in March after months of controversy, including the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis and lawmakers' questions over a $220 million advertising contract promoting Noem that was awarded without a standard bidding process.
Lewandowski had signed some DHS contracts despite having questionable legal authority as a special government employee, according to the DHS official. Certain grants and contracts, including those involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were put on hold at Lewandowski's direction, according to two of the people, both of whom are DHS officials.
Lewandowski previously served as a campaign manager during Trump's first presidential run in 2016 and advised his 2024 campaign.
(Reporting by Jana Winter and Andrew Goudsward; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Michael Learmonth and Edmund Klamann)
