Multiple whistleblowers within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have alleged that Corey Lewandowski, a key political ally of Secretary Kristi Noem, spent months attempting to strong-arm his way into obtaining a federally issued gun and badge, a privilege reserved for trained law enforcement officers.
The Alleged Pressure Campaign and a Derailed Promotion
According to four department sources, Lewandowski, who serves as a temporary 'special government employee' at DHS, made his pursuit of a firearm a litmus test for a top candidate to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In the spring, he allegedly posed the question directly to Tom Feeley, then the ICE New York field director and a contender for the agency's top job.
"So would I be issued a gun?" Lewandowski asked, according to two individuals familiar with the exchange. Feeley reportedly replied, "You're not a cop," and stated that formal training would be required. Shortly after this rebuff, Feeley was dropped from consideration for the ICE director position, a move one DHS official characterised as a "direct consequence" of his refusal to cooperate.
Feeley, who had relocated to Washington, D.C., in anticipation of the role, was instead assigned to a position at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. Lewandowski has furiously denied these claims, telling the Daily Mail, "I have never asked the federal government for a gun! I'm a law-abiding gun owner!" He also denied knowing or speaking with Feeley, suggesting the allegations were leaked by Trump's former border czar, Tom Homan.
Behind-the-Scenes Manoeuvres and Legal Pushback
Undeterred, Lewandowski's efforts allegedly continued into the early summer. DHS insiders claim senior legal counsel, empowered by allies loyal to Secretary Noem, began probing what it would take for Lewandowski and roughly a dozen associates to receive firearms and ICE credentials.
"They did some very loose fishing to see how much pushback they would get," a second DHS insider revealed. The scheme reportedly collapsed when ICE officials pushed back, demanding to know under what legal authority a political adviser with no policing powers could be issued a federal firearm. They posed a series of pointed questions regarding arrest authority, necessity, and crucially, whether applicants had passed background checks.
This line of questioning proved problematic. In a leaked March DHS memo, Lewandowski admitted on a background check form to being treated in 2022 for alcohol use disorder, substance abuse disorder, and partner relation conflict. "They couldn't answer those questions," the insider stated.
Parallel arrangements were allegedly made for a covert two-week firearm course at a training centre in Alexandria, Virginia, with more than a dozen guns ordered. Lewandowski's name was purportedly omitted from the attendee list to avoid a paper trail, and the training was ultimately scrapped over fears of media exposure.
Career Fallout and Official Denials
The fallout from resisting Lewandowski's alleged campaign extended beyond Tom Feeley. Sources indicate that after a second bid for a gun was thwarted in the summer, Kenneth Padilla, the executive deputy principal legal advisor, was placed on administrative leave. Padilla had raised questions he deemed "unethical, immoral, and potentially illegal." He was later moved to a role at FEMA, a move interpreted by some as a demotion.
DHS officials loyal to Noem and Lewandowski have issued firm denials. A department spokesperson stated, "This is unequivocally false. Mr Lewandowski has never requested or been issued a firearm from any law enforcement agency at DHS." Caleb Vitello, Assistant Director of the ICE Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, also confirmed he had never received a request to issue Lewandowski a firearm.
Despite the denials, the allegations have stirred significant internal criticism. "DHS is a serious law enforcement agency where people are trained to do their job and Corey just continues to take shortcuts to benefit himself and his friends," the first DHS official said. "Rules are not things that Corey generally follows." The controversy casts a shadow over a department already grappling with the challenges of border security and immigration enforcement.
