The VERY Awkward Kristi Noem “Sexual Relations” Question - Chris Cillizza

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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spent Wednesday on Capitol Hill — testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.

And it got, well, awkward.

California Democratic Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Noem whether she had engaged in “sexual relations” with her DHS consigliere Corey Lewandowski during her time at the department.

A visibly angry Noem responded: “I am shocked we’re peddling tabloid garbage in this committee.”

Which, you will note, isn’t a denial.

But the awkwardness was only beginning! Because the next Democrat to question Noem — Florida’a Jared Moskowitz — followed up on Kamlager-Dove’s line of inquiry.

“I really think you need to say the word ‘no’ into the record so that you can clear that up,” Moskowitz told Noem about the “sexual relations” question.

She replied that he was part of the “liberal media” — uh what? — and added: “You say conservative women are stupid or sluts. I am neither.”

Which, you will again note, isn’t a denial.

Did I mention that Noem’s husband — Bryon — was in the audience at the Judiciary Committee hearing?

If you haven’t followed this stuff, rumors of a relationship between Noem and Lewandowski, who came to prominence as a senior member of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, have been rife in Washington for months. (Lewandowski, like Noem, is married.)

Those whispers went public last month in a blockbuster Wall Street Journal that detailed Noem’s, uh, stormy tenure at DHS.

Here’s the key bit from that story:

Noem and Lewandowski’s close relationship had already made Trump and his top advisers uncomfortable. Lewandowski had initially wanted to formally serve as Noem’s chief of staff, but Trump rejected the idea due to reports of a romantic relationship between the two—which he has continued to bring up, officials say….

…After photos in the Daily Mail showed Lewandowski going back and forth between his apartment and Noem’s across the street last year, the secretary moved into a government-owned waterfront house on a military base in Washington that is provided to the leader of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard falls under Noem’s purview at DHS during peacetime. Lewandowski also spends time at the house.

In the words of Matthew McConaughey: Alright, alright, alright.

This isn’t just prurience for prurience’s sake.

Remember that Lewandowski works for Noem. (He is technically a special government employee.) And the boss can’t engage in a sexual relationship with a subordinate.

Which makes this more than a “ARE THEY SLEEPING TOGETHER” story. And the fact that Noem — on TWO occasions — passed on the chance to say she is NOT having an affair with Lewandowski matter. (Worth noting: Noem was testifying under oath.)

That refusal to say “no” means we haven’t heard the last of the story — by a long shot.

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