Trump Says He's Aware of DOJ Probe Into Former Ally Corey Lewandowski

President Donald Trump has stated he has "heard something about" a Department of Justice investigation into Corey Lewandowski, a former ally and Trump's 2016 campaign manager. Lewandowski is reportedly being investigated over allegations that he profited from his past role as an adviser at the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump made the comments to reporters on Thursday, following media reports of the probe. He noted that he did not know the specifics of the investigation but emphasized his desire for integrity among his associates. "I want my people to be honest. And if they’re not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted," Trump said. He added, "I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do."

Lewandowski served as a special government employee at the Department of Homeland Security during Kristi Noem's tenure as secretary. The Wall Street Journal reported that the investigation was initiated after a referral from the DHS inspector general concerning Lewandowski's time at the agency. His role as Noem's lead adviser reportedly involved an outsized influence despite limits on his working days.

Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, stated that his client had not been contacted by the Justice Department and denied any wrongdoing. "Mr. Lewandowski has not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation, and he denies any wrongdoing when he was proudly serving his country in a voluntary capacity," Trigg said in a text comment.

Reports from The Washington Sun indicated that some public records requests made by the Department of Homeland Security during Lewandowski's tenure were denied due to an ongoing criminal probe.

An investigation into a former Trump adviser marks a shift for the Justice Department, which has primarily focused on investigating and prosecuting political critics of the former president.