Donald Trump's White House has signalled it will not intervene to protect Corey Lewandowski, the rumoured romantic partner of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as a criminal investigation into his handling of multi-billion-dollar no-bid contracts intensifies. Lewandowski, who acted as Noem's de facto chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security before both were pushed out in March, is accused of attempting to convert taxpayer money into personal profit. Senior Trump aides told the Daily Mail they would not shield him should the department's inspector general refer the case to the Justice Department for prosecution.

The Homeland Security watchdog launched its inquiry after ordering dozens of current and former staff to preserve communications, and investigators have reportedly briefed new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin over the summer. Separate reporting from the Wall Street Journal alleges Lewandowski solicited paid work from Qatari and Emirati officials while overseeing DHS visa matters, delayed a $2.7 billion Palantir contract while demanding a meeting with its chief executive (a deal later cut to $1 billion), and froze out prison operator GEO Group. Lewandowski's representatives deny he sought foreign contracts or demanded payment, and his lawyer insists he would neither need nor seek a presidential pardon, despite claims he has told associates he expects one.