Corey Lewandowski built a political career on returning to Donald Trump’s side after repeated setbacks. That pattern has now broken.
The Justice Department has opened an inquiry into Lewandowski, a longtime Trump adviser and operative.
Trump has not rushed to defend him. The silence marks a notable shift from past episodes when the president shielded loyal allies.
Lewandowski first rose to prominence as Trump’s campaign manager during the 2016 race. He was dismissed that year but remained in the orbit.
He later took a senior role at a pro-Trump super PAC and stayed close to the president’s inner circle. Allies often described him as persistent and hard to sideline.
The current inquiry adds a new test. Legal scrutiny of a longtime associate can create distance even in tight political networks.
