The Justice Department (DOJ) has launched an investigation into longtime Trump advisorCorey Lewandowski, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News.

The probe stems from a criminal referral sent to the Justice Department by theDepartment of Homeland Security’sinspector general, marking a legal escalation for the high-profile political figure.

Asked about the inquiry by reporters outside the White House, President Donald Trump said he wants his staff held accountable and that he had \"heard something about it.\"

\"All I know is I want my people to be honest,\" Trump said.

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\"If they're not going to be honest, they have to be prosecuted,\" Trump warned, adding that dishonesty amounts to \"stealing from me as president.\"

\"They are stealing from me. So, I want my people to be honest. And if they're not honest, I'll have my DOJ go and do whatever they have to do.\"

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Adam Trigg, an attorney for Lewandowski, said his client has not been contacted by the Justice Department and denies 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 statement posted on Lewandowski's X account.

Lewandowski is a longtime political ally ofTrumpwho previously served as an advisor to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

He also served as Trump's first campaign manager during the 2016 presidential race before being fired that June.

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Lewandowski stayed close to Trump, also serving as a senior advisor during his 2020 and 2024 campaigns.

After The Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice was reviewing allegations of corruption and personal financial gain involving Corey Lewandowski, he said on X that the report was \"another example of the kind of anonymous-source, politically driven reporting that Americans have seen time and again.\"

Lewandowski added he was proud of his work as a volunteer in \"advancing this administration's agenda and (remains) confident that the facts and not anonymous accusations will ultimately speak for themselves.\"

","1d52ef2fc1840827240961fcaa683cf3fffed94029f5bc3ef69046014931d7c5","b4d8ed4d5d2dcf2d88cb602d084a7aa988934d66be6e437824e6cb6ffdbe973a9a3b836180196af031e7f1522afb3de0187979a19b0074d3f3d05d1990050a0d",[140,141,142,143,144],"d9ce26dad2db27b53683a9e9b339de47f4fb926ca550b089e5192b46334fbaaf","DOJ opens investigation into Trump ally Corey Lewandowski\nThe Justice Department is probing Corey Lewandowski after a criminal referral from Homeland Security investigators, according to a source.\n\n\nnostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpkwwymdd9ke8k5mg820fkvuau3l5lwfxef2skzy72xftgce5lw40qqjrydfkx43xxv3c95er2cfh956xyer994sk2enx94sn2vtyv33rxcfjxdskynj20rg ",1792710217,[49,126],[80,129],[77,145,50,79],[76,50],[75,137,50],"30023:d9ce26dad2db27b53683a9e9b339de47f4fb926ca550b089e5192b46334fbaaf:2565bc28-25a7-4bde-aeff-a51ddb3a23ab","f53d7088-91c4-449b-84a5-330e76bcccf2","Department of Justice opens criminal investigation into Corey Lewandowski","Corey Lewandowski, a former political adviser to Donald Trump and aide at the Department of Homeland Security, is under criminal investigation for allegedly profiting from his government role. The investigation, initiated by the DHS Inspector General, focuses on Lewandowski's involvement in handling certain government contracts. Lewandowski's lawyer denies all allegations, and the Justice Department has not yet issued subpoenas.","Ex-Trump adviser and former top aide for homeland security alleged to have profited off government role","https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/27f1bec13236412c652ed0449df939e709dbf42c/695_0_3476_2781/master/3476.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&precrop=40:21,offset-x50,offset-y0&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=9e87e3c489f28fbcd1cbb4955b742e43","2026-10-23T06:44:07.97","https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/22/corey-lewandowski-trump-criminal-investigation",{"_32":155,"_60":156,"_62":22,"_51":157,"_64":158,"_66":159,"_68":160},"Corey Lewandowski, a former political adviser to Donald Trump and ⁠top aide at the Department ⁠of Homeland Security, is under criminal investigation over allegations he profited off his role in the US government, three US officials and a fourth person familiar with the matter told Reuters ⁠on Thursday.\nThe investigation began with a criminal referral to the justice department from the internal watchdog at DHS, according to the four people. The DHS inspector general’s office has been investigating ⁠Lewandowski’s involvement in the handling of certain government contracts, according to one of the people, a DHS official.\nA lawyer for Lewandowski, Adam Trigg, did not immediately respond to ‌a request for comment. The ‌investigation was [first reported in the Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/corey-lewandowski-doj-investigation-a6ccde19), which quoted Lewandowski’s lawyer as saying that his client denies ‌all allegations of wrongdoing.\nThe DoJ has not yet issued subpoenas or other legal demands in the criminal investigation, according to one of the people. All four of the people spoke on the condition of anonymity.\nThe justice department under Trump has investigated several prominent critics of the president, including the former FBI director James Comey and the New York attorney general Letitia James, but investigations of people close to Trump have been rare. The department has also moved ‌to dismiss several existing cases involving Trump allies, including supporters charged in connection with the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.\nAsked about media reports on the investigation, Trump told reporters that he did not know the specifics of the investigation, but said: “I want my people to be honest.”\n“And if they’re not honest, I’ll have my DoJ go and do whatever they have to do,” Trump added.\nLewandowski served as a top aide to the former homeland security secretary Kristi Noem during her tenure leading DHS. Trump fired Noem in March after ⁠months of controversy, including the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis and lawmakers’ questions over a $220m advertising contract promoting Noem that was awarded without a standard bidding process.\nLewandowski had signed some DHS contracts despite having questionable legal authority as a special government ‌employee, according to the DHS official. Certain grants and contracts, including those involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were put on hold at Lewandowski’s direction, according to two of the people, both of whom are DHS officials.\nLewandowski previously served as a campaign manager during Trump’s first presidential run in 2016 and advised his 2024 campaign.","28512360718b25621f5cf28fe11d9f1c0e531dadeafb6a881a8c5efcd456c653","8b901fe03591e3e8aaaac04574f7e2e2d2384cad1b12b182e181b17294dd32ceb2b7857ec510ae5ccac59facf3ed807ed23d0c4fadd3e2d75df8f5ca80640f28",[161,162,163,164],"c70c3496af43d505c85c2c54b4792401b1620ba0b7793cc8e68348d7f2a209da","\n\n\n\nnostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzp3cvxjt27s74qhy9ctz5k3ujgqd3vg96pdme8nywdq6g6le2yzw6qqjxvdfnvsmnqwpc95unzce5956rgwtz95urgcf495enxvr9xumxycmrvdnry0ysntu 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DOJ Investigates Trump Ally Corey Lewandowski

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