Congressional Leaders Call For Perjury Investigation Into Ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Lawmakers recommend a perjury probe into former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem regarding her testimony on detention centers and a $220 million ad campaign.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 11:37 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Raw Story

Allegations Of Deception Under Congressional Oath

Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jamie Raskin are set to deliver a criminal referral to the Department of Justice on Monday, targeting Kristi Noem’s recent testimony. The recommendation seeks to determine if the former Homeland Security Secretary knowingly provided false information during her March 3 appearance before Senate and House committees. According to reports from journalist Scott MacFarlane, the referral highlights at least four distinct instances where Noem’s statements allegedly contradicted documented facts regarding departmental operations and federal compliance.

Taxpayer Funded Advertising Under Scrutiny

A primary focus of the proposed investigation involves a controversial $220 million advertising campaign that featured Noem prominently while she led the Department of Homeland Security. Lawmakers are questioning the accuracy of her testimony regarding the bidding process for these taxpayer funded spots. The referral suggests that transcripts of her statements do not align with internal records of how the contracts were awarded or managed, raising concerns about potential fiscal mismanagement and public deception.

Detention Facility Conditions And Legal Compliance

The criminal referral also targets Noem’s assertions regarding the state of U.S. immigrant detention facilities and the treatment of detainees. Lawmakers claim Noem provided misleading information about whether these facilities met federal standards and addressed concerns about the detention of U.S. citizens. Furthermore, the recommendation asks the DOJ to probe claims that the Department of Homeland Security, under Noem's leadership, acted in open defiance of specific federal court orders regarding the management of these sites.