Scandal has struck at the heart of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where whispers of power plays and unethical demands are shaking the foundation of an agency tasked with protecting our borders.

Reports suggest Corey Lewandowski, a temporary special government employee at DHS and close ally of Secretary Kristi Noem, repeatedly pushed to obtain a federally issued gun and badge—privileges reserved for trained law enforcement—while allegedly retaliating against career officials who resisted his demands.

This saga began in the spring when Lewandowski reportedly approached Tom Feeley, then a contender for ICE director, with a pointed question about securing a firearm if Feeley took the top job.

Unpacking the Alleged Firearm Request

According to sources, Feeley, the ICE New York field director, rebuffed the idea, noting Lewandowski lacked the necessary law enforcement credentials or training.

Shortly after this exchange, Feeley—once a promising candidate who had relocated to Washington, D.C., for the role—was passed over for ICE director and reassigned to a training center in Georgia, a move some DHS insiders call a direct consequence of his refusal.

Lewandowski, however, denies ever making such a request, claiming to be a law-abiding gun owner with no need for federal credentials.

Whistleblowers Raise Ethical Concerns

Multiple whistleblowers paint a different picture, alleging Lewandowski spent months seeking an ICE firearm and badge, credentials typically off-limits to non-law-enforcement personnel, to carry a weapon nationwide for work purposes.

Efforts to accommodate him reportedly included senior DHS and ICE legal counsel exploring ways to grant firearms to Lewandowski and a dozen of his associates, though these attempts crumbled under scrutiny over legal authority and ethical concerns.

Questions arose about the necessity of such a weapon, the accompanying authorities, and whether proper background checks—including for past issues like domestic violence charges—had been conducted, leaving the legal team unable to justify the move.

Retaliation and Career Fallout Alleged

A covert two-week firearm training course at a Virginia facility was even scheduled, with guns ordered for over a dozen participants, though Lewandowski’s name was suspiciously absent from records to avoid attention—until media exposure fears led to its cancellation.

‘He thinks he's a tough guy, but he's a wannabe,’ a DHS official told the Daily Mail, highlighting the perception that Lewandowski’s push for credentials was more about image than necessity.

Let’s not mince words: if true, this smacks of entitlement, bypassing the rigorous standards that dedicated law enforcement officers must meet, all while waving around clout like a backstage pass at a concert.

Denials and Deflections from DHS

After these failed attempts, whistleblowers claim Lewandowski’s influence led to career setbacks for those who opposed him, like Feeley’s reassignment and Kenneth Padilla’s shift to FEMA—a move often seen as a demotion within DHS circles.

‘This is unequivocally false,’ a DHS spokesperson told the Daily Mail, insisting Lewandowski never requested or received a firearm from any agency under their purview, a stance echoed by ICE officials who oversee firearm issuance.

Yet, with Lewandowski’s history of controversies—from past arrests to harassment allegations—and criticism of his rule-bending leadership style, these denials do little to quiet the storm of skepticism surrounding his role at DHS, leaving conservatives to wonder if loyalty is trumping accountability in an agency vital to national security.