One of the first major corruption scandals to hit the Trump Administration in just its first month back in the White House was revealed today. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Norm awarded a $200 million ‘no-bid‘ federal contract to a crony of disgraced former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski for an advertisement campaign.
The advertisements, which some have described rightfully as being in a ‘campaign-style’ focus on Noem’s role in deporting thousands of illegal aliens under the new Trump Administration, a process that is being slowed tremendously by members of the federal judiciary.
The ad buy went in the form of a no-bid contract to two organizations called ‘People Who Think LLC’ and ‘Safe America Media LLC’, based in northern Virginia. There’s just one problem.
‘People Who Think’, who received $200 Million for the campaign-style advertisements that prominently displayed the DHS Secretary, is a company co-founded by Jay Connaughton, a close friend of Corey Lewandowski, the alleged boyfriend of Kristi Noem.
Vantage News uncovered a photo of Lewandowski and Connaughton from Lewandowski’s X profile. See that posting below,
Lewandowski’s Controversial Alleged Affair With Kristi Noem Goes Back Years
In September of 2023, the New York Post reported that Lewandowski had reportedly been having an affair with North Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem. The Governor has been married to her husband Bryon Noem since 1992. The couple has three children together. That reportedly didn’t stop Corey Lewandowki from pursuing a sexual relationship with Noem. They were reportedly seen ‘making out’ in a bar in Orlando during a CPAC convention in 2021.
An eyewitness recalled spotting the duo, and told the New York Post,
”It wasn’t like 2 a.m. It isn’t like we caught them at some dive bar miles away. It’s a lobby bar where everyone is staying and so there’s a bajillion political operatives and journalists and electeds around. I remember I saw it with my own eyes and a couple other people saw it and the blatantness was absurd.”
Lewandowski and Noem were even allegedly seen getting ‘handsy’ in December of 2020 at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Noem Hires Alleged Lover Lewandowski At Department Of Homeland Security
Noem has even gone as far as to hire Corey Lewandowski at the Department of Homeland Security as a ‘special government employee’, potentially violating a number of extremely serious ethics laws, and leading to serious doubts about Noem’s judgment. Lewandowski’s true role at the department has yet to be identified publicly.
When asked about Lewandowski’s relationship with Noem, the Department of Homeland Security recently said in a statement, “Like Elon Musk and so many other patriots, Mr. Lewandowski volunteers his time as a special government employee (SGE) to help President Trump Make America Great Again.”
While Elon Musk and DOGE claim to be identifying in ending billions of dollars of “waste fraud and corruption” homeland, security, Secretary Kristi Noem quietly awarded a $200 million no-bid federal contract for a publicity campaign for… you guessed it- Kristi Noem.
Political insiders informed Vantage News that Noem Is eyeing a potential run for President in 2028, making the $200 million ad buy by her agency even more suspicious. Lewandowski, who managed Trump’s campaign in the early days of 2016, but was ignominiously fired for disturbing allegations of sexual assault and battery, is reportedly looking to re-enter Presidential politics, managing the future campaigns of Noem.
In an administration that has pursued budget cuts for Medicaid and Social Security, a corruption scandal involving what essentially amounts to campaign advertisements being paid for with taxpayer money to a company owned by the lover of the woman responsible for awarding the contract is certainly not a good look.
While thousands of federal employees are being laid off and senior citizens face deep cuts into their lifeblood, Noem is busy handing out multi-hundred million dollar checks to a crony of the man many say she has been conducting an extramarital affair with.
Troubling Allegations Of Sexual Assault Against Lewandowski In Las Vegas
In September of 2021, Lewandowski was accused by Trashelle Odom, the wife of Idaho construction executive John Odom, of making unwanted sexual advances. Lewandowski reportedly repeatedly touched Odom on her legs and buttocks while speaking to her in graphic sexual terms.
Lewandowski then allegedly stalked the woman throughout the charity event which was held at the Las Vegas Westgate Hotel and Casino. Odom told Politico about the incident at the time,
“On the evening of September 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada, I attended a dinner to support a charity and spend time with wonderful friends. He repeatedly touched me inappropriately, said vile and disgusting things to me, stalked me, and made me feel violated and fearful.
I am coming forward because he needs to be held accountable. I am blessed to have a loving husband and family behind me. I want other women to know that you can be heard, too, and together we can stop terrible things like this from happening.”
Trashelle Odom would eventually file a police report over Lewandowski’s behavior. Her attorney Matthew K. Taylor sent Odom’s statement about the incident at the Westgate Hotel and Casino to the Boise Police Department in Idaho, where Odom lives, so that her local police department could forward it to the police department in Las Vegas.
Lewandowski Reportedly Described His ‘Sexual Performance’ To Trashelle Odom.
The Trump campaign announced that it would be cutting ties with Lewandowski after this incident became a national news story. At the time, the longtime Trump operative had been running a pro-Trump Super PAC Make America Great Again Action.
The disturbing situation with Trashelle Odom ended with a plea agreement in which Lewandowski was forced to complete ‘counseling and community service.’ He also reportedly paid a fine of $1,000.
John Odom, the husband of Lewandowski’s victim Trashelle, requested a refund for a $100,000 donation he had made to the Trump campaign in 2023 after it was announced that Trump had hired Lewandowski in a limited role.
Lewandowski Charged With Battery In Florida For Grabbing Reporter
2021 was not the first time that Corey Lewandowski had been accused of inappropriate behavior, nor the first time that he was charged for a physical altercation involving a woman.
The controversy that eventually led to the downfall of Lewandowski’s role with the 2016 Trump campaign was an incident with reporter Michelle Fields. The veteran political operative was charged with battery for grabbing the reporter, an aggressive act that was caught on video that the Jupiter Police Department eventually released.Hyped up on his powerful position in the 2016 Trump campaign, Corey Lewandowski grabbed Michelle Fields and forced her away from Donald Trump.
Though Lewandowski was never charged with battery, as the Palm Beach County prosecutor chose not to pursue a criminal prosecution of the campaign manager, the incident has plagued his name since it occurred.
