Kristi Noem Accused of Failing to Disclose $80k Dark Money Payment

Homeland Security Secretary and former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is accused of failing to report an $80,000 payment from a dark money group on her federal disclosure forms while she was governor. 

The Details: In 2023, Noem reportedly received the payment from a nonprofit called American Resolve Policy Fund, which was channeled to her personal company, Ashwood Strategies. This income was allegedly not reported on her federal disclosure form when President Trump appointed her as his secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, a potential violation of federal ethics requirements. 

For Context: Noem's personal company, Ashwood Strategies, was established in Delaware during her second term as South Dakota governor on the same day the American Resolve Policy Fund was also incorporated. Noem has faced previous allegations of using taxpayer funds for personal travel with an Associated Press (Left bias) analysis that found South Dakota taxpayers covered over $600,000 in Noem's travel expenses during her six-year governorship. Noem has denied all allegations of misuse of public funds.

How the Media Covered It: ProPublica (Lean Left) broke the story, detailing the payment and its implications in-depth. It highlighted that this situation could be seen as a conflict of interest, as Noem was personally profiting from political donations. Washington Examiner (Lean Right) focused primarily on Noem's failure to report the income on her federal disclosure form and previous allegations of misusing taxpayer funds.

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