A key Democrat has formally requested that former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adviser Corey Lewandowski preserve all records related to his tenure at the agency. Senator Maggie Hassan, who is set to become the Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued a letter to Lewandowski on Friday, emphasizing his legal obligation to retain documents.
The directive comes amid ongoing scrutiny and allegations concerning Lewandowski’s conduct and handling of contracts during his time at DHS. Senator Hassan’s office indicated that Lewandowski’s attorneys had previously stated he had no legal obligation to comply with such requests, asserting that concerns were mere “insinuations.” However, subsequent reports indicate that the DHS Office of Inspector General has referred allegations of corruption and abuse of taxpayer dollars to the Department of Justice for investigation.
This development follows earlier actions by the House Judiciary Committee, which subpoenaed Lewandowski and other former Trump administration officials in August 2019 as part of its investigation into President Donald Trump’s conduct. At that time, the committee sought testimony and records related to their roles in the events surrounding former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The House committee’s chairman, Representative Jerrold Nadler, stated that Lewandowski and another former aide, Rick Dearborn, were prominently featured in the Mueller report for their alleged awareness of efforts to obstruct justice.
American Oversight, a non-profit watchdog group, also sued the Department of Homeland Security in September 2025, seeking records related to Lewandowski’s role at the agency. The lawsuit aimed to uncover details about his position as a Special Government Employee (SGE), his alleged misuse of that designation, and his potential evasion of transparency and oversight requirements. The group alleged that Lewandowski, described as former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s “de facto chief of staff,” exercised considerable influence over policy, contracts, and personnel decisions while reportedly avoiding standard governmental procedures, including the use of government email for official business.
Concerns about records retention at DHS have been a recurring issue. In March 2026, Senators Gary Peters and Maggie Hassan wrote to the DHS General Counsel, seeking confirmation that the agency had preserved all official records from Secretary Kristi Noem and Lewandowski. They highlighted past instances of DHS leadership losing text messages and emphasized that messages pertaining to government business conducted on personal devices are federal records that must be retained. Both Noem and Lewandowski faced a range of misconduct allegations, including concerns about the awarding of contracts without full and open competition.
The DHS Inspector General’s office has reportedly launched a comprehensive investigation into contract solicitations and handling during the period Lewandowski was involved, with some reports linking his alleged micromanagement of contracts to tensions with White House officials. While the Inspector General’s office typically does not confirm or deny ongoing investigations, it had previously announced an audit into DHS grants and contracts awarded outside of competitive bidding processes. This audit was reportedly paused due to a government shutdown but was expected to resume.
Lewandowski has reportedly declined to comment on the various requests and investigations. It is important to note that he has not been formally accused of wrongdoing in relation to these matters, and as of the latest reports, he is not facing criminal charges. However, the ongoing requests for records and the referral of allegations to the Department of Justice signal continued scrutiny of his actions during his time at the Department of Homeland Security.
Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
