Top DHS Official McLaughlin Resigns in the Wake of Corruption Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Facing massive criticism, including allegations of self-dealing for her role in her husband’s contract with her agency, today Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security, resigned.
Last month, Public Citizen called for McLaughlin to resign after uncovering new documents that named McLaughlin as the point person for a $220 million DHS anti-immigration advertising buy that, in part, went to her husband’s company.
In a statement responding to McLaughlin’s resignation, Public Citizen Democracy Advocate Jon Golinger said, “This is a stunning example of a public official who under any other administration would have resigned or been fired long ago. This should be the start of cleaning up the massive mess at DHS, and Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem should follow McLaughlin right out the door.”
As House impeachment proceedings against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem gain steam, the alleged financial self-dealing involving McLaughlin and her husband’s firm is specifically cited in the impeachment resolution as one of three Articles in support of Noem’s impeachment.
“Noem has turned a law enforcement agency into a lawless one. This stunning revelation of self-enrichment by her top staff is more evidence she should be impeached and removed by Congress immediately,” said Public Citizen Co-President Lisa Gilbert.