Kristi Noem referred for felony investigation after ‘mendacity below oath’ about $220m vainness scheme
Kristi Noem has been referred to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation over alleged perjury tied to her claims that Donald Trump approved a $220 million ad campaign featuring her riding a horse.
Top congressional Democrats referred the outgoing Homeland Security Secretary to the DOJ over ‘knowingly making false statements under oath’ to Congress.
Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month that Trump had known about and approved the lavish ad. Days later, Trump told reporters he had not approved the commercial.
A source familiar with the matter told the Daily Mail the referral appears ‘pretty weak,’ but said the questions on the advertising contracts would be the stickiest.
Within 24 hours of Noem’s testimony, she became the first cabinet casualty of Trump’s second term. She and her rumored lover, Corey Lewandowski, are set to officially depart Homeland Security on March 31.
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin told Pam Bondi ‘we have low expectations that you will pursue this matter given your partisan weaponization of the Department of Justice.’
‘We note that the statute of limitations for knowingly and willfully making false statements to Congress is five years,’ Raskin and Durbin wrote to Bondi.
The $220 million contract awarded by DHS was allegedly given to a consulting firm linked to the husband of Noem’s former spokesman, Tricia McLaughlin, raising allegations of a potential conflict of interest.
Kristi Noem has been referred to the DOJ for a criminal investigation but top congressional Democrats
Noem became the first cabinet secretary fired during Trump’s second term
Noem’s congressional testimony led to Trump firing her less than a day later
Noem will be replaced by Markwayne Mullin, a conservative senator from Oklahoma.
Her firing comes as the vast majority of DHS remains shut down due to Democrats’ refusal to approve funding.
‘The DOJ has received the latest political stunt from the Democrats who should instead vote to reopen the Department of Homeland Security,’ a spokesperson for the DOJ told the Daily Mail.
Noem was grilled by her fellow Republicans during her Senate committee hearing, including hardline GOP Senator John Kennedy.
Kennedy suggested during his question that Noem participated in the commercial to promote herself rather than the President’s agenda.
‘The President approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?’ Kennedy asked her.
Noem claimed Trump personally approved the campaign to which Kennedy replied, ‘to me, it puts the president in a terribly awkward spot.’
‘I’m not saying you’re not telling the truth,’ Kennedy continued. ‘It’s just hard for me to believe, knowing the president as I do, that you said, “Mr President, here’s some ads I’ve cut, and I’m going to spend $220 million running them” that he would have agreed to that.’
The $220 million contract awarded by DHS was allegedly given to a consulting firm linked to the husband of Noem’s former spokesman, Tricia McLaughlin, raising allegations of a potential conflict of interest
Markwayne Mullin, a conservative senator from Oklahoma, will replace Noem
The shocking confrontation from Noem’s fellow Republican sent shockwaves through the White House.
Trump fired her just two days later after saying he had never approved or reviewed the advertising campaign.
The lavish ad campaign featured Noem riding on a horse at Mount Rushmore in her home state of South Dakota, and galloping beside a stampeding herd of bison.
