Top congressional Democrats referred evidence to the Justice Department on March 16 that they say indicates Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem committed perjury in testimony before Congress.
"Noem repeatedly misled the Senate Committee on the Judiciary during her testimony," Sen. Dick Durbin, D–Illinois, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D–Maryland, said in a letter to the Justice Department. "A number of her statements appear to violate criminal statutes prohibiting perjury and knowingly making false statements to Congress."
Durbin and Raskin specifically referred to testimony Noem gave before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3 and before the House Judiciary Committee on March 4. Durbin is the top Democrat for the Senate Judiciary Committee, while Raskin is the top Democrat for the House Judiciary Committee.
"Any claim that Secretary Noem committed perjury is categorically FALSE," DHS told USA TODAY in a written statement.
The Justice Department won't pursue a criminal investigation, saying in a statement to USA TODAY, "The DOJ has received the latest political stunt from the Democrats who should instead vote to reopen the Department of Homeland Security."
