People
7 entries in Loyalty StateBen Yoho
CEO, The Strategy Group The Strategy Group (Ohio)CEO of The Strategy Group, an Ohio Republican advertising firm that operated as an undisclosed subcontractor for $142.8M in DHS contracts routed through the Safe America Media shell company. Married to Tricia McLaughlin, Noem's DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs — whose office funded the contracts. Brought into Noem's orbit by Corey Lewandowski. Previously received $8.5M in South Dakota state funds and $5M+ for Noem's 2022 reelection ads.
Corey Lewandowski
DHS Senior Adviser (special government employee) Department of Homeland SecurityTop DHS adviser under Noem, classified as unpaid 'special government employee' while maintaining undisclosed outside income. ProPublica records show he personally approved DHS contracts worth hundreds of millions — directly contradicting Noem's sworn congressional testimony. Brought Ben Yoho into Noem's orbit, creating the patronage chain behind the $220M Safe America Media scandal. Rumored romantic relationship with Noem; she refused to deny it under oath.
Eric Silverstein
Co-owner, Loomered Strategies LLC Loomered Strategies LLCCo-owner of Loomered Strategies with Laura Loomer. Long Island, NY resident who operates the anonymous X account @CcpSkipTracer. Background largely unknown — the most important unanswered question about Loomer's operation is who this person is and what credentials or intelligence community connections he may have.
Kristi Noem
Former DHS Secretary (fired March 5, 2026) Department of Homeland SecurityDHS Secretary fired by Trump on March 5, 2026, after two days of devastating congressional testimony revealed she could not explain $220M+ in no-bid advertising contracts awarded to shell companies and political operatives with direct personal ties to her and her advisers. Testified under oath that Trump approved the ad campaign; Trump told Reuters hours before firing her that he 'never knew anything about it.' One of them committed perjury.
Laura Loomer
Loyalty enforcer / Opposition research operator Loomered Strategies LLC; Illoominate Media LLCInformal loyalty enforcer for Trump administration. Has driven the firing of 15-16 federal officials across NSA, Cyber Command, NSC, DOJ, HHS, and DoD. Launched Loomered Strategies, a for-profit opposition research firm actively pitching government vetting contracts to the White House Presidential Personnel Office. Holds Pentagon press credentials. Has Trump's direct cell phone number and Oval Office access.
Michael McElwain
Republican operative; Safe America Media registered address DMM Media (Designated Market Media, Inc.); former NRCC Political DirectorVeteran Republican operative and former NRCC Political Director whose Virginia home is the registered address for Safe America Media LLC — the 8-day-old Delaware shell company that received $142.8M in no-bid DHS contracts. Partner at DMM Media (Designated Market Media), a ~5-employee firm. The exact nature of his role in Safe America Media — owner, officer, or registered agent — remains unknown due to Delaware's LLC opacity.
Tricia McLaughlin
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Department of Homeland SecurityDHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs under Noem. Her office funded the $220M+ DHS ad contracts. Her husband Ben Yoho's firm, The Strategy Group, was an undisclosed subcontractor receiving money from those contracts. Claims she 'fully recused' herself — but her office still processed the payments.