South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem denies claims that she is having an extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski, one of Donald Trump’s top advisers who was fired this week as chief of the former president’s political action committee due to separate accusations of sexual harassment.
News of an alleged affair between Noem and Lewandowski, who are both married to respective spouses, first emerged Tuesday on the conservative website American Greatness and then reported by The Washington Post and other news outlets, including Fox News.
“These rumors are total garbage and a disgusting lie."
American Greatness cited “multiple” anonymous sources in its report who claimed the pair had been romantically involved “for months,” the Post reported.
On Sept. 29, Noem adamantly denied the claims on Twitter.
“These rumors are total garbage and a disgusting lie,” she wrote. “These old, tired attacks on conservative women are based on a falsehood that we can’t achieve anything without a man’s help. I love Bryon. I’m proud of the God-fearing family we’ve raised together. Now I’m getting back to work.”
The allegations coincide with Lewandowski’s dismissal from the Make America Great Again Action super PAC, Trump’s newest political operation, which announced late Wednesday that former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was replacing him after he was accused of sexual misconduct.
In that case, Trashelle Odom — a Trump donor — accused Lewandowski of touching her inappropriately and using sexual terms to speak to her at a Las Vegas charity event last weekend, according to a report by Politico that was published on Wednesday.
“Corey bragged multiple times about how powerful he is, and how he can get anyone elected, inferring he was the reason Trump became President,” Odom said in a statement provided to The Washington Post. “Corey claimed that he controls access to the former president. He said he is in charge of the donors and the Super PAC. . . . He also made it clear that if he was crossed, he has the power to destroy anyone and ruin their lives.”
After the allegations, Trump’s team moved swiftly to distance itself from Lewandowski, with Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich saying on Twitter that he “will no longer be associated with Trump World,” and adding that Lewandowski “will be going on to other endeavors and we very much want to thank him for his service.”
Prior to this week, Lewandowski had worked his way back into Trump’s good graces after being fired as his first campaign manager in June 2016.
By all accounts, Lewandowski remained loyal, keeping his access to the former president, and earlier this year resurfaced as the head of Trump’s super PAC.
At the same time, Noem and Lewandowski reportedly traveled and made political appearances together across the country, the Post reported. On one occasion they were even seen partying late at night in a hotel bar, according to the Post.
David Chesnoff, a Las Vegas-based attorney for Lewandowski, told the Post in an email Wednesday afternoon: “Accusations and rumors appear to be morphing by the minute and we will not dignify them with a further response.”
Noem, a Republican, is considered a potential vice presidential candidate on the 2024 ticket but has come under fire recently following allegations of nepotism and abuse of power.
A day after the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced against Lewandowski, Noem’s office announced that she would stop working with the former Trump adviser.
“Corey was always a volunteer, never paid a dime (campaign or official),” said Ian Fury, Noem’s communications director, according to the Post. “He will not be advising the governor in regard to the campaign or official office.”
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