NEW: Trump’s DOJ Investigates Possible Corruption Charges For Corey Lewandowski

AP Photo/Josh Reynolds

Donald Trump’s Justice Department is looking into allegations that Corey Lewandowski personally profited from his position when he was an unpaid “Special Government Employee” with the Department of Homeland Security, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Lewandowski served as top adviser to then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem until she was fired over mismanagement and excesive spending concerns. Lewandowski left his role shortly thereafter.

The Journal reported that the investigation was based on a “referral” from the DHS inspector general, and was the “first publicly known instance of Trump’s second-term Justice Department scrutinizing someone close to the president.”

The Journal previously reported that while at the department, Lewandowski “appeared to try to use his vast influence for personal financial gain, including asking several countries in the Middle East to hire him on the side to assist with visa issues and other matters.”

In addition, “Investigators with the DHS inspector general’s office found evidence that Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts,” and that the IG “had for months been weighing a criminal referral to the Justice Department.”

The investigators were said to have been “surprised” at how involved Lewandowski was in the department’s contracting process, according to the report, adding that current Homeland Security secretary, Markwayne Mullin, “has received briefings on the investigation, according to people familiar with the matter.”

The Journal previously reported that Lewandowski “told people close to him he expects the president would pardon him in the event of a criminal case.” A lawyer for Lewandowski previously denied that, telling the Journal that Lewandowski “didn’t speak about or suggest that he would seek or need a presidential pardon.”

Lewandowski’s representative said the former top DHS employee has not been contacted by the DOJ regarding an investigation

“He denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity,” the representative told the Journal.

Read The Wall Street Journal Story here.

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