Lewandowski Leaves DHS As Questions Mount Over Contract Role
Lewandowski Leaves DHS As Questions Mount Over Contract Role
Corey Lewandowski is no longer with the Department of Homeland Security, a spokesperson confirmed Saturday. “Mr. Lewandowski no longer has a role at DHS,” the spokesperson told NBC News.
The departure comes weeks after President Donald Trump fired former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after roughly a year in the role. Former Sen. Markwayne Mullin was sworn in earlier this week as her replacement, NBC News reported.
Lewandowski had been serving as a special government employee and top adviser to Noem. His exit follows questions about his role overseeing contracts at DHS and whether he had any involvement in assigning or benefiting from them.
Multiple sources told NBC News that Trump had begun asking aides about Lewandowski’s responsibilities, including whether he personally profited from contract decisions. NBC News also reported that Lewandowski asked some contractors for payments tied to protecting or expanding their contracts.
A representative for Lewandowski denied the allegations. “This is absolutely false and did not happen — Mr. Lewandowski never demanded any payment or compensation,” the representative said.
Democratic lawmakers have opened inquiries into Lewandowski’s conduct, including whether he sought personal payments while working at DHS. Separate questions have also been raised about a $220 million advertising contract in 2025 that featured Noem.
The timeline shows a sequence of internal action before congressional pressure. Trump removed Noem, began asking questions about Lewandowski’s role, and Lewandowski is now out of the department.
Mullin now takes over an agency that has faced months of scrutiny tied to leadership controversies. The Department of Homeland Security continues to oversee border security, immigration enforcement, and counterterrorism operations as the transition unfolds.
Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 54-45 to become the ninth Homeland Security secretary, ending a race to succeed troubled outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.
Additionally, it concludes Mullin’s 13-year career in Congress, which started in the House. In 2021, he was elected to the Senate, where he served as a de facto liaison between the two chambers, fostering mutual trust during last year’s push to pass the “big, beautiful bill.” He was eager to cast his last vote for himself when he arrived at the polls with his family by his side.
President Donald Trump picked Mullin to head the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, and the confirmation vote was mostly along party lines. To secure his nomination, Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, and John Fetterman, D-Pa., joined almost every Republican.
Heinrich said he bucked his party because he has seen that Mullin — who co-chairs the Senate Legislative Branch spending committee with him — “is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views.”
“And I look forward to having a secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller,” Heinrich said.
The only Republican to vote against Mullin was Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who cited their strained relationship and Mullin’s prior remarks that his assault in 2017 was “justified.”
Mullin’s confirmation also marked the end of a hectic month that saw the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and Noem’s reassignment following two explosive hearings on Capitol Hill.
However, Mullin’s rise to power and Noem’s removal have not significantly changed Senate Democrats’ stance. Along with multiple GOP attempts to temporarily extend funding to DHS, they have so far blocked funding to ICE five times and continue to demand broad reforms to the agency.
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
WASHINGTON — A ferocious battle over the soul of American democracy erupted on cable news this week, proving once again that the clash over election integrity is reaching a boiling point.
During a high-stakes segment on Fox News' top-rated program The Five, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov ignited an intense firestorm by sounding the alarm on the Republican-backed SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act).
Her warning was sharp, direct, and unapologetic: This isn't just a simple Voter ID bill—it’s a bureaucratic roadblock designed to keep millions of legal Americans away from the ballot box.
"Far Beyond Voter ID": Tarlov Sounds the Alarm
While GOP proponents frame the SAVE Act as a common-sense measure to restore trust in elections, Tarlov shredded that narrative live on air, dissecting the fine print of the proposed federal mandate.
Under the bill, anyone registering to vote in federal elections would be legally required to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a physical U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or naturalization papers.
"People hear 'Voter ID' and think it’s just showing a driver's license at the counter," Tarlov argued. "It’s not. This bill demands physical proof of citizenship upfront. Millions of everyday, hard-working American citizens do not have a valid passport sitting in a drawer or immediate access to an official birth certificate. This creates an artificial barrier to a fundamental constitutional right." without instant paperwork access.
Integrity Guardrail or Voter Suppression? The Great Debate
The fiery television debate reflects a massive political rift tearing through Capitol Hill and statehouses across the country.
The Conservative Defense: Republican sponsors and conservative commentators insist the measure is vital to national security and sovereign elections. They argue that verifying citizenship at registration is a necessary safeguard to prevent non-citizens from ever slipping onto federal voter rolls.
The Progressive Pushback: Critics like Tarlov argue that non-citizen voting in federal elections is already illegal, strictly policed, and exceptionally rare. Opponents caution that adding heavy administrative hurdles will unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters—particularly students, low-income citizens, rural voters, and women whose names have changed due to marriage.
The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher
As the debate over voter access versus election security intensifies, the SAVE Act has turned into a major political litmus test.
Is requiring physical proof of citizenship a mandatory protection to guarantee that every vote is lawful? Or is it an unnecessary, red-tape nightmare that punishes legal citizens for not having their paperwork in order?
One thing is certain: as long as voices like Jessica Tarlov continue to push back on prime-time television, the fight over who gets to vote—and how hard it is to do so—is far from over.
Jessica Tarlov Says Trump Has 35% Approval Rating in Most Polls
Supporters of the bill strongly disagree, saying it is designed to protect election integrity by preventing non-citizens from registering to vote. Opponents argue the existing safeguards are already sufficient and fear the measure could unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters. Is the SAVE Act a necessary election safeguard, or does it create unnecessary barriers to voting?
Jessica Tarlov Suspended Indefinitely After Allegedly Assaulting Fox News Crew Member
Jessica Tarlov Suspended Indefinitely After Allegedly Assaulting Fox News Crew Member
NEW YORK — The set of Fox News’ hit show The Five has seen its fair share of heated shouting matches, but what went down behind the scenes this week turned a political debate into an outright crime scene.
In a shocking move that has sent shockwaves through Manhattan media circles, network executives have suspended co-host Jessica Tarlov indefinitely following an alleged physical assault on a crew member during a commercial break.
The reason for the explosive violent outburst? A camera operator made the fatal mistake of laughing out loud at one of her political talking points.
The Laugh That Triggered a Rampage
According to multiple insider accounts and studio witnesses, the situation escalated with terrifying speed. During a taped segment discussing presidential leadership, Tarlov aggressively defended President Joe Biden, passionately declaring him to be "one of the most alert and engaged presidents in American history."
While her conservative co-hosts on The Five usually counter her hot takes with eye-rolls and sharp rebuttals, it was an off-camera crew member who couldn't hold back.
A veteran camera operator reportedly chuckled out loud at the statement—a moment of candid disbelief that pushed Tarlov entirely over the edge.
"She just flew completely off the handle," one studio staffer revealed under the condition of anonymity. "Jessica has always been hyper-sensitive to pushback, but this was different. The moment she heard that laugh, her face changed. She lost control, lunged at the crew member, and turned physically aggressive. It took two floor managers to pull her off."
Fox News Responds: A Mandatory "Cooling-Off" Period
Network executives acted swiftly to control the fallout. Within hours of the incident, Tarlov was escorted from the building and informed of her immediate, indefinite suspension.
While the network hasn't closed the door permanently—noting they will consider a formal appeal at a later date—the consensus inside the building is clear: She is out for the foreseeable future.
In a internal memo, management framed the suspension as a mandatory "cooling-off period" to review safety protocols and investigate the physical altercation. However, staff members say the atmosphere on set remains deeply rattled.
Beyond Political Delusion: When Rhetoric Turns Violent
Political commentators across social media were quick to seize on the scandal. For years, Tarlov served as the resident liberal voice on The Five, regularly taking fire from a panel of staunch conservatives. But critics argue that defending the indefensible finally broke her composure.
To many viewers, claiming Biden was "sharp and alert" in 2024 or 2025 was already seen as an exercise in extreme political bias—but resorting to physical violence when called out on it marks a dangerous new low.
"This isn't just about partisan bias anymore," noted one media analyst following the story. "When a commentator becomes so consumed by political delusion that a simple chuckle triggers a physical assault, you've crossed a line from political debate into total instability."
What’s Next for The Five?
As Fox News searches for a temporary replacement to fill the liberal chair, the network faces intense scrutiny over workplace safety and on-set decorum.
Will Jessica Tarlov ever walk back onto the set of The Five, or has the "token leftist" finally burned her last bridge in cable news?
This story is actively developing. Scroll down to view real-time updates, legal analysis of the alleged assault, and reaction clips from around the media world!
