Top Democrats Refer Kristi Noem to DOJ Over Perjury Allegations
Durbin and Raskin cited March 3-4 testimony and a five-year statute of limitations when they asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to open a perjury probe.
New York PostTop Democrats file criminal referral against fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
Common DreamsTop Dems Refer Kristi Noem to Trump DOJ for Prosecution Over Perjury Allegations | Common Dreams
Daily SignalDemocrats Push DOJ to Prosecute Kristi Noem After Trump Ousts Her From DHS
FOX NewsFired DHS chief Kristi Noem faces criminal referral from congressional Democrats
Overview
Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Jamie Raskin on March 16 referred departing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to Attorney General Pam Bondi for a perjury investigation over statements she made during testimony on March 3 and March 4.
Durbin and Raskin said Noem "made a series of demonstrably false statements" during her March 3 and March 4 testimony and noted the five-year statute of limitations could allow a future Department of Justice to pursue charges.
The Department of Justice called the referral a "political stunt," and the Department of Homeland Security said any claim that Noem committed perjury is "categorically FALSE," according to statements cited by the lawmakers.
A federal judge in Minnesota identified 210 instances of ICE violating court orders between December 2025 and February 2026, a finding Durbin and Raskin cited in urging a DOJ probe of Noem's testimony.
President Donald Trump announced he fired Noem earlier in March and tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her, and Mullin must be confirmed by the Senate before taking over the Department of Homeland Security.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story as an accountability-driven legal controversy, foregrounding congressional referrals and claims of perjury while treating DHS denials as secondary. They emphasize alleged statutory violations and court defiance through lead placement, quoted paraphrases like "those statements were false," and limited DOJ/Noem response, privileging oversight perspectives.
FAQ
Noem claimed President Trump approved a $220 million DHS ad campaign in advance and that contracts were awarded through an open, competitive bidding process; however, Trump said he did not recall approving it, and records show contracts went to companies tied to her staff.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrats on the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, sent the referral letter on March 16, 2026.
A $220 million DHS media campaign on immigration enforcement featuring Noem's image, with contracts allegedly awarded to politically connected firms without proper competitive bidding.
The DOJ called it a 'political stunt,' and DHS stated any claim of perjury by Noem is 'categorically FALSE.'
