UPDATE: A coalition of five U.S. senators and two representatives has urgently requested a formal investigation into a shocking $220 million advertising contract awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to a firm closely linked with Secretary Kristi Noem. This demand follows a revealing report by ProPublica, which uncovered that the Republican consulting firm, Strategy Group, secretly produced ads featuring Noem, raising serious ethical concerns.
The lawmakers have called for the release of documents from DHS, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding the contract’s allocation. The investigation focuses on allegations that Noem’s office bypassed standard competitive bidding processes to funnel taxpayer dollars to a mysterious Delaware LLC that emerged just days before the contract was awarded. Alarmingly, the Strategy Group was not listed in official documentation related to the deal.
In a letter addressed to the DHS inspector general, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and three other Senate Democrats expressed their concerns, stating, “The public deserves to know that government officials are not using taxpayer dollars to enrich themselves and their friends on the backs of hardworking Americans.” They are pressing for an inquiry into potential violations of federal laws designed to prevent self-dealing.
The Senate group includes prominent lawmakers such as Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.). Additionally, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has sent a separate letter demanding accountability.
House representatives Bennie Thompson and Robert Garcia, leaders of the House homeland security and oversight committees, also joined the call for an investigation. They have requested all communications between Noem, her aides, and any individuals associated with the Strategy Group or the Delaware LLC. Their letter explicitly accuses Noem of “lining your friends’ pockets at the taxpayer’s expense.”
Criticism from other Democrats has intensified, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanding Noem’s resignation, labeling the situation as blatant corruption. “This is what corruption looks like,” stated Rep. Jasmine Crockett during a congressional hearing. “They’re stealing money from the American people’s pockets and depositing it into their bank accounts.”
ProPublica’s investigation revealed that the Strategy Group’s undisclosed work included producing a high-profile ad featuring Noem at Mount Rushmore, targeting immigrant communities. Their long-standing ties to Noem are evident; they played a significant role in her gubernatorial campaign and maintain close relationships with Noem’s aides at DHS, including Corey Lewandowski.
The office overseeing the ad contracts, the DHS Office of Public Affairs, is headed by Tricia McLaughlin, who is married to the Strategy Group’s CEO, Ben Yoho. Experts in federal contracting have voiced concerns about the potential ethical violations arising from these close connections.
When questioned about the Strategy Group’s involvement, McLaughlin stated, “I don’t know who they’re a subcontractor with, but I don’t work with them because I have a conflict of interest and I fully recused myself.” However, she added uncertainty regarding the selection process, saying, “We don’t have visibility into why they were chosen.”
In light of the serious allegations, DHS has not directly addressed the investigation requests but reiterated its commitment to proper contracting practices. A spokesperson for the DHS inspector general stated the office does not confirm or deny ongoing investigations.
As this story develops, the implications of these accusations could have significant ramifications for Noem and the DHS, raising questions about government accountability and the ethics of public spending.
Stay tuned for more updates as lawmakers push for answers regarding this controversial ad contract and its ties to Secretary Noem.
