Noem's Embarrassing Comeback: Criminals She Freed Are Back in the Slammer
Kristi Noem’s past is crashing back into the spotlight, and it’s not pretty. The former Governor of South Dakota, now stripped of her Homeland Security secretary title, is under fire as a report reveals that twelve out of nineteen prisoners she released early are back in trouble with the law.
These aren’t just minor infractions; seven of them are facing felony charges, mostly for drug-related offenses. Others are racking up DUIs and domestic violence charges. Talk about a second chance gone wrong!
Noem, 54, has been in hot water for her controversial commutation decisions during her tenure. Out of 27 commutations, 19 were granted in a shocking move without the necessary approval from the Board of Pardons and Parole. This eyebrow-raising tactic has left many questioning her judgment, especially after her recent high-profile firing.
In a rare moment of transparency, Noem briefly addressed the commutations during her January 2024 State of the State Address, stating, “Last month, I commuted the sentence of a number of inmates who qualified, giving them parole. Now they can begin their supervised transitions back into the community.” But critics are demanding more than just vague reassurances.
Now serving as the Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, Noem has been accused of running a tight ship that favors her inner circle, including rumored lover Corey Lewandowski. Allegations have surfaced that she jeopardized vital disaster aid by requiring her personal approval for expenses over $100,000. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Her controversial policies are under investigation, including a staggering $38 billion warehouse-to-detention program initiated with Lewandowski and a $220 million ad campaign that skirted competitive bidding. Ethics complaints have also haunted her, with accusations of misusing state-owned planes and leveraging her authority to benefit her daughter’s real estate ambitions. While she denies any wrongdoing, the ethics board’s findings remain sealed.
During her time as Homeland Security chief, Noem oversaw the rapid construction of the notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration facility in Florida. This place has been linked to horrific human rights abuses and is set to close in 2026. Noem touted it as a “cost-saving effort,” but reports indicate it’s draining $1 million daily from state coffers.
Detainees have described conditions so brutal they likened them to being “like rats in an experiment.” One Cuban detainee recounted his experience to Amnesty International, calling it a “copy of Guantánamo.” The facility’s infamous “box,” a 2-by-2-foot cage where guards would shackle inmates to the ground, has drawn international condemnation.
Earlier this year, lavish spending on advertisements for the Department of Homeland Security reportedly cost around $200 million. Critics point to Noem’s extravagant Mount Rushmore campaign as a key factor in her dismissal from the department.
As if that weren’t enough drama, Noem recently shared a family update following her husband’s scandal involving ‘bimbofication.’ With all this chaos swirling around her, one has to wonder: can Noem recover from this mess?
