Corey Lewandowski, a top aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is now reportedly facing new scrutiny following reports that he once boasted he could act without fear of consequences because he believed President Donald Trump would pardon him if necessary.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Lewandowski made the remark on multiple occasions while working as a special government employee within the Department of Homeland Security. The comments surfaced in the aftermath of the political fallout that led to Noem’s removal from her post.
“I’m not worried. I do whatever the f–k I want. DJT will pardon me,” Lewandowski allegedly told one source last year during a discussion related to official government actions. Another source said Lewandowski had similarly told colleagues he expected a pardon if legal trouble ever arose.
Several others who had worked with Lewandowski said they did not personally hear the statement but indicated that the remark sounded consistent with his blunt style and reputation inside political circles.
Lewandowski strongly denied making the claim when asked about it.
“Never said that. Never asked for a pardon and have no reason to receive one,” he told The New York Post.
Still, the allegations have fueled ongoing criticism from detractors who say Lewandowski wielded significant power inside the department while operating with little oversight. Sources described him as tightly controlling operations under Noem, including overseeing contracts and making abrupt staffing decisions.
Both Lewandowski and Noem have denied any wrongdoing or improper relationship. However, questions have persisted regarding the management of DHS during their tenure.
The controversy deepened after NBC News reported that President Trump had privately asked questions about whether Lewandowski personally benefited from a $220 million federal advertising campaign that featured Noem prominently.
Administration officials across Washington have acknowledged concerns about how the pair managed certain aspects of the department. The advertising campaign became a major focus during congressional hearings last week, where Noem faced intense questioning from lawmakers.
Democrats pressed the former DHS secretary about Lewandowski’s role in awarding contracts and his connections to firms that ultimately received federal funds. The hearings also brought renewed attention to the nature of Lewandowski’s working relationship with Noem.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the controversy surrounding those hearings contributed to Trump’s decision to remove Noem from her position. One moment in particular reportedly proved decisive: her halting response when asked whether she had engaged in “sexual relations” with Lewandowski.
By that point, both Noem and Lewandowski had already been losing influence inside the administration following other controversies, including backlash tied to federal immigration enforcement operations.
Despite the criticism, Lewandowski remains a longtime figure within Trump’s political orbit. He first rose to prominence as Trump’s campaign manager during the early stages of the 2016 presidential race.
Even then, his tenure was marked by controversy. Lewandowski was dismissed from the campaign later in 2016 and has since faced several other public disputes. In 2016, he was charged with battery after an incident involving then-Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields, though the charge was later dropped. In 2017, he faced accusations — but no charges — related to an alleged incident involving Trump supporter Joy Villa.
Neither of those cases necessarily involved federal offenses that could be addressed through a presidential pardon.
More recently, Lewandowski left a pro-Trump super PAC in 2021 after allegations that he made unwanted advances toward a donor. His lawyers later said the matter had been dismissed.
Lewandowski later joined Noem at the Department of Homeland Security as an unpaid special government employee. In that role, he was not required to file public financial disclosures. Such positions are typically limited to 130 days per year, though sources said Lewandowski continued working inside DHS headquarters throughout 2025.
Despite the controversies, Lewandowski remains close to Trump, who has reportedly valued his loyalty and the role he played in the president’s first campaign.
“He’s a survivor,” one former Trump campaign official said.
Others within Trump’s political network say Lewandowski’s confidence about a potential pardon may not be entirely misplaced, noting the president has previously granted clemency to several allies.
At the same time, some former advisers expressed skepticism that Trump would extend that protection if clear wrongdoing were proven.
“Corey has always behaved like the rules don’t apply to him,” said a former Trump campaign adviser. “People around Trumpworld have been waiting to see how that ends.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
