Corey LewandowskiShe was reportedly having an affair with former Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, and she has stood by the 54-year-old and her husband, Brian, as they faced difficult times. The New York Post reported on Wednesday, citing sources, that the former aide was actively working behind the scenes to deal with the crisis.
What is the Brian Noem controversy about?
Brian Noem sparked the controversy after sharing photos of himself in drag in online circles linked to a niche fetish community, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The images, described as featuring exaggerated prosthetics, quickly went viral.
Read more: Donald Trump reacts to Brian Noem cross-dressing controversy, ‘Too bad…’
While the allegations have put intense pressure on Noem, insiders told The Washington Post that Lewandowski has stepped into a core advisory role, something he has done before. He held an informal but influential position in her orbit during her tenure as Homeland Security secretary.
Even after being fired from that role by Donald Trump, Lewandowski is said to have remained in close contact with Noem. According to sources in the New York Post, the two continue to coordinate closely to try to stabilize the situation.
At the same time, Noem’s personal life has also become the focus of attention. Despite the controversy, she and her husband reportedly still live at the Coast Guard Commandant’s residence in Washington due to safety concerns.
A rep for Noem told the publication that she was “shocked” by the allegations involving her husband as the political fallout from the incident continues to unfold.
“He’s a survivor,” a senior Republican strategist who knows both of them well told The Washington Post.
Read more: Bryon Noem’s Career: 5 Things to Know About Kristi Noem’s Husband Amid ‘Drag Obsession’ Allegations
The latest on Corey Lewandowski
Meanwhile, Reuters quoted a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson as saying that Levandowski was no longer cooperating with the agency. A Department of Homeland Security spokesman said he “no longer holds a position at the Department of Homeland Security,” but did not provide further details. Lewandowski served as an unpaid adviser to Noem. He previously served as Trump’s campaign manager in the 2016 election.
Trump fired Noem earlier this month, saying she would become a special envoy for the new “American Shield” initiative to promote his security policies in the Western Hemisphere. Noem has since been replaced as head of the Department of Homeland Security by former U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an appointment confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday.
The close relationship between Lewandowski and Noem has drawn scrutiny. During a congressional hearing earlier this month, a Democratic lawmaker asked Noem directly whether she had a sexual relationship with Lewandowski — a question Noem dismissed as “tabloid trash.”
(Information provided by Reuters)
