Corey Lewandowski, who reportedly had an affair with former Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, is standing by the 54-year-old and her husband Bryon during their tough time. The New York Post cited sources on Wednesday to report that the former aide is actively working behind the scenes to manage the crisis.
What is the Bryon Noem controversy about?
The controversy erupted after a Daily Mail report alleged that Bryon Noem had shared cross-dressing images of himself in online circles tied to a niche fetish community. The images, described as featuring exaggerated prosthetics, quickly went viral.
Read More: Donald Trump reacts to Bryon Noem cross-dressing controversy, ‘Too bad…’
While the allegations have placed Noem under intense pressure, insiders told The Post that Lewandowski has stepped into a central advisory role, something he has done before. During her tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security, he held an informal but influential position within her orbit.
Even after her dismissal from that role by Donald Trump, Lewandowski is said to have remained closely aligned with Noem. According to NY Post sources, the two continue to coordinate closely as they attempt to steady the situation.
At the same time, Noem’s personal life has come under a spotlight. Despite the controversy, she and her husband are reportedly still living together at the Coast Guard commandant’s residence in Washington, citing security considerations.
A representative for Noem told the publication that she is ‘devastated’ by the allegations involving her husband, as the political implications of the episode continue to unfold.
“He’s a survivor,” a top Republican strategist who knows them both well told The Post.
Latest update on Corey Lewandowski
Meanwhile, Reuters cited a Homeland Security spokesperson to add that Lewandowski no longer works with the agency. He ‘no longer has a role at DHS’, the DHS spokesperson said, without providing further details. Lewandowski had been 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 special envoy to a new ‘Shield of the Americas’ initiative to promote his security policies in the Western Hemisphere. Noem has since been replaced as the head of DHS by former US Senator Markwayne Mullin, whom the Senate confirmed on Tuesday.
The close relationship between Lewandowski and Noem drew scrutiny. At 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 garbage’.
(With Reuters inputs)