DOJ to Probe Kristi Noem for Alleged Perjury

Congressional Democrats are preparing to formally request that the Justice Department investigate whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem committed perjury during her Capitol Hill testimony earlier this month.

“The top Democrats on the House and Senate Judiciary committees are calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether departing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lied under oath before Congress”

CNBC

The referral, expected to be delivered Monday to Attorney General Pam Bondi, will come from Senate and House Judiciary Committee Democrats who claim several statements Noem made during hearings on March 3 and March 4 may have violated federal laws governing false statements to Congress.

CNBC

The recommendation will reportedly be signed by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the vice chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

They are urging the DOJ to determine whether Noem 'knowingly made false statements' while responding to questions about a controversial $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign promoting immigration policies.

The investigation would also examine issues surrounding detention facilities, the detention of U.S. citizens, and compliance with federal court orders.

The controversy centers on a $220 million media campaign launched by the Department of Homeland Security that prominently featured Noem's image and focused on immigration enforcement.

During testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early March, Noem stated that US President Donald Trump knew about and approved the ad campaign in advance.

MEAWW News

She also claimed that the bidding process to award the campaign contracts was open and competitive.

However, Trump later told reporters he did not recall approving the campaign beforehand, creating a direct contradiction with Noem's sworn testimony.

Records and reporting suggest that the contract for the ads went to companies with political connections to Noem's staff, raising questions about how the work was awarded.

The referral will reportedly outline at least four specific statements lawmakers believe may qualify as perjury or false statements to Congress.

“Congressional Democrats to Demand DOJ Probe Into Kristi Noem for Alleged Perjury The Department of Justice is set to receive a formal referral urging an investigation into whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem committed perjury during her Capitol Hill testimony earlier this month, according to congressional Democrats preparing the request”

Mediaite

Among the contested statements are Noem's assertions about conditions inside U.S. immigration detention facilities and whether her department obeyed federal court orders.

Democrats argue that ICE internal audits have documented significant failures to meet medical care standards, directly contradicting assurances given in her testimony.

The referral letter states that several answers Noem gave under oath appear to contradict documented facts, especially regarding the ad campaign and contract bidding.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security rejected the claims outright, stating 'Any claim that Secretary Noem committed perjury is categorically false.'

Days after appearing before Congress, President Donald Trump reassigned Noem from her cabinet role, naming her a special envoy while nominating Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

The political implications of this situation are significant, as legal experts describe such congressional referrals as symbolic when made by lawmakers of the opposing party.

National Review

This is particularly true in cases where the person under scrutiny is allied with the current administration.

Noem, a former governor of South Dakota who was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security in early 2025, had drawn both praise and criticism for her hard-line immigration enforcement policies.

The Justice Department is not required to open a criminal investigation in response to the referral, and there is currently no indication that charges have been filed.