Sydney Kamlager-Dove

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday did not directly answer whether she was having an affair with special government employee and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, instead calling the rumors “tabloid garbage.”

Noem, who like Lewandowski is married, was asked twice about the reports of an affair when she appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing Wednesday.

“Secretary Noem, at any time during your tenure as director of Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowksi,” asked Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif.

“Mr. Chairman, I am shocked that we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today,” Noem responded.

“Ma’am, the one thing that I would tell you is that he is a special government employee who works for the White House. There are thousands of them in the federal government,” she continued, adding that Lewandowski has “no authority to be making any decisions” as an adviser to her.

Kamlager-Dove pointed out that Noem did not give a definitive answer.

“You should be wanting to answer that question because it is not about your sex life, it is about your judgment ... and decision making,” the congresswoman said.

“It is about conflict of interest. It is about a national security risk,” Kamlager-Dove continued.

When the rumors first surfaced in 2021, when Noem was governor of South Dakota, she and Lewandoski called the reports a “disgusting lie.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., followed up on Kamlager-Dove’s questioning.

“You’ve called Corey Lewandoswki a special government employee. I understand what government means. I understand what employee means. But I don’t know what makes him special,” Moskowitz said.

“I know you said it’s garbage, and it may be,” the congressman continued, “but I think you really need to say the word ‘no’ into the record so that you can clear that up.”

“I think the ridiculousness of this and the tabloids that you are quoting and reference are insane,” Noem responded, “and this has been ...”

Moskowitz cut her off.

“So that’s a ‘no?’” the congressman asked.

“This is what you do,” Noem replied. “the socialist, liberal left, is you go off and you attack conservative women and you say that we’re either stupid or we’re sluts. And that’s what you do. And I’ll tell you, sir, that we are neither of those.”