Corey Lewandowski, a longtime controversial adviser to President Donald Trump, raised alarm inside the Department of Homeland Security last year when he sought approval to carry a federally-issued firearm while working for the agency, four current and former government officials familiar with the situation told MS NOW.
Lewandowski’s pursuit of a weapon authorization became so contentious that a veteran attorney for Immigration and Customs Enforcement was escorted from the building after refusing to sign off on the request and clashing with leadership, two of the current and former government officials told MS NOW. They were granted anonymity to speak candidly about the situation and due to fear of retribution.
Kenneth Padilla, who was then working for ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, was asked whether Lewandowski could be issued a gun. Padilla said there was no legal basis for doing so and that it was not legally feasible for Lewandowski to be issued a gun as he is not law enforcement, two of the people said.
Padilla was put on administrative leave and subsequently reassigned to FEMA later last year, according to the people familiar with the situation. Padilla’s LinkedIn profile shows that he moved to FEMA in November.
“This is all about threats and intimidation with Corey,” said one former senior DHS official with knowledge of the incident.
In a statement to MS NOW, Lewandowski denied ever seeking a federal firearm.
“Never happened. I never sought, requested, asked for or even inquired about a federal firearm,” Lewandowski said in a text message. “So to be clear, I am NOT and have never carried a federal firearm.”
It is practically unheard of for a temporary political appointee in a non-law-enforcement role to be allowed to carry a government-issued weapon, according to former DHS, ICE and FBI officials who spoke to MS NOW.
“I’ve never heard of a political appointee carrying a weapon in my entire career,” a former senior ICE official said. “The liability that comes with that is extraordinary. You’re not trained, you’re not a career person. There’s really no reason to have it.”
Lewandowski serves as a “special government employee” at DHS, a designation that allows him to work 130 days per year while maintaining employment outside the government. Despite the part-time status, he is listed as a chief adviser to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and frequently travels with her.
Noem and Lewandowski have also subjected DHS employees to polygraph examinations, and the threat of the tests has instilled fear among staff across the department, four people familiar with the matter told MS NOW.
It is unclear if Lewandowski currently carries a firearm in his current role at DHS. The Wall Street Journal first reported Lewandowski’s push to acquire a gun and Padilla’s rejection of it.
DHS did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s request for comment. Padilla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Laura Barrón-López covers the White House for MS NOW.
Didi Martinez is a freelance field producer for MS NOW.