Dems kick Kristi Noem while she’s down with new investigation

The New York Times reports the hits on former Homeland Security head Kristi Noem just keep coming.“Her firing doesn’t absolve her or relieve her of potential liability for perjury, and we are going to pursue an investigation of the evidence that she lied, because it relates to corruption in the administration,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).Blumenthal told the Times that Democrats have evidence to suggest that Noem’s advisor Corey Lewandowski had approved contracts for the Department of Homeland Security, despite having no authority to do so. Worse, Blumental said Noem had lied under oath during a Tuesday Senate hearing when she claimed that Lewandowski had not approved contracts.During the Tuesday Senate hearing, Blumenthal asked Noem directly: “Does Corey Lewandowski have a role in approving contracts, and if so, what is that role?”“His role is as a special government employee, and special government employees work for the White House and the administration,” Noem said without answer.“So, he does have a role,” Blumenthal pressed. “No,” Noem eventually said.The next day, the Times reports Blumenthal sent a letter to Noem suggesting she had misrepresented Lewandowski’s role.“Evidence suggests that your testimony was false,” Blumenthal wrote, adding that department records showed that Mr. Lewandowski had “personally approved contracts” and that employees believed his signature was a “green light” for spending.The Times reports Democrats cannot currently launch a full investigation without the support of Republicans, who control of the Senate. But Blumenthal can still hold public forums on the topic, send letters requesting information and solicit whistle-blowers at a time when the Trump administration and its lieutenants are sensitive to reports of corruption and ineptitude.Noem was fired from her post as Homeland Security secretary after two days of ruthless grilling from both Democrats and Republicans — who are wary of administrative incompetence as Congress moves into what will likely be a brutal midterm election for the GOP.

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