WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said Friday she has opened an investigation into the Department of Homeland Security's purchase of a privately owned immigration detention center in Appleton, Minnesota, citing allegations of corruption in the department's contracting.

Hassan, a Democrat whose office said she is expected to chair the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the new Congress, sent letters to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and to Lucibeth Mayberry, president and CEO of detention contractor CoreCivic, asking them to preserve all records related to the deal.

According to Hassan's office, DHS bought the Prairie Correctional Facility from CoreCivic in 2025 for $495 million, shortly after Minnesota declined to buy the same facility for $75 million, and then awarded CoreCivic a contract to run it. Her office said the department paid more than six times the price offered to the state.

"The transaction raises additional concerns about DHS stewardship of taxpayer dollars, particularly in light of recent findings by the Government Accountability Office that DHS has wasted millions of dollars on failed detention initiatives," Hassan wrote.

Hassan tied the purchase to allegations involving Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Her office said GEO Group, CoreCivic's main competitor, allegedly declined to engage in "pay-to-play arrangements" with Lewandowski, and her letter cited reporting that the Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe of him related to DHS contracting. Her office also said CoreCivic's chief executive had urged Immigration and Customs Enforcement to "move quickly" on such transactions after the election.

The preservation request covers records from Jan. 1, 2025, onward, including personal email accounts, text messages and encrypted messaging apps, as well as communications with White House officials including border czar Thomas Homan and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Hassan asked CoreCivic to confirm in writing by Nov. 30 that it has complied.

The release did not include a response from DHS or CoreCivic.

Hassan had already opened a separate investigation into Lewandowski's conduct at the department. The Signal reported Tuesday that she renewed her demand that he turn over records from his time at DHS by Nov. 23, and that her office said his lawyer had responded to an earlier request by saying she lacked the authority to compel documents.

Earlier coverage: Hassan renews demand for Lewandowski's DHS records, citing his 'nothing to hide' remark

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