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At least three staffers who followed former Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to her new State Department gig were reportedly fired, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the New York Post.
Troup Hemenway, Josh King and Octavian Miller were all placed on paid leave after Noem was replaced by Markwayne Mullin last month and followed her as she was appointed to the newly created role of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a government insider confirmed. The three were allegedly fired, however, due to their ties to top Department of Homeland Security aide Corey Lewandoski, the man Noem was rumored to have an affair with, as well as the fallout surrounding her firing as DHS director.
“They didn’t want any people that would be tentacles for Lewandowski,” the source told the New York Post.
A total 10 staffers followed Noem to the State Department, but the three fired aides were allegedly told “We’re going to help you for a little bit, but you’re obviously not welcome," while the other seven were allowed to keep their jobs.
Kristi Noem's non-answer about whether she had "sexual relations" with Lewandowski during a House hearing on March 4 was reportedly the "final straw" that led to President Donald Trump announcing his decision to replace her, the New York Post earlier this month. Trump was reportedly considering ousting Noem after he had already claimed to senators that he approved $220 million to be spent on Homeland Security advertisements starring her, but the secretary's inability to answer the question on her alleged affair was the deciding factor.