$220M DHS Ad Spend Under Fire: Democrats Seek DOJ Probe into Kristi Noem Over Campaign Transparency: Congressional Democrats have formally asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem committed perjury during recent testimony before Congress, intensifying scrutiny over her leadership in the final weeks of her tenure.
The referral, led by Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jamie Raskin, alleges that Noem “repeatedly misled” lawmakers during hearings earlier this month. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the lawmakers argued that several of Noem’s statements may violate federal statutes prohibiting perjury and false statements to Congress.
Dispute Over $220 Million Advertising Campaign
At the center of the controversy is a $220 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advertising campaign that featured Noem prominently. During testimony, Noem stated that the contract for the campaign had been awarded through a competitive bidding process and that President Donald Trump was aware of the initiative.
However, Trump later told reporters he did not recall approving or being briefed on the campaign, further deepening contradictions surrounding the issue.
Democrats cited reports suggesting that a key contractor, Safe America Media, received $143 million despite being incorporated just over a week prior to the award and allegedly outside standard competitive procedures.
“These two statements are clearly inconsistent; one of them has to be false,” Durbin and Raskin wrote, asserting that even if Noem accurately described the president’s awareness, she may have misrepresented the procurement process.
Allegations on Detention Conditions and Court Compliance
The referral also challenges Noem’s testimony regarding immigration enforcement practices. She told lawmakers that DHS “always” complies with federal court orders and denied knowledge of any violations by immigration agents.
Democrats strongly disputed those claims, citing federal court findings in states such as Minnesota and New Jersey, where judges concluded that immigration authorities had violated numerous judicial orders. The lawmakers also referenced reports of delayed releases from detention, despite court mandates.
Further allegations include misleading statements about detention standards. While Noem described DHS facilities as exceeding most state and local standards, court filings and detainee accounts reportedly highlighted issues such as denial of medical care and poor food conditions.
The Justice Department has not yet issued an official response to the referral..
