Photos allegedly featuring Bryon Noem, husband of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, have surfaced from an online fetish community. Security experts are suggesting this represents a significant oversight in the vetting process for a high-ranking official like Noem.

Potential Blackmail Vulnerability

The leaked photos have raised concerns about potential blackmail vulnerabilities. Former CIA agent Tracy Walder told The Post that a thorough background investigation should have been conducted on Noem’s spouse, similar to the rigorous vetting she underwent when joining the CIA.

Standard Vetting Procedures

Walder described the extensive vetting process she experienced, including interviews with housemates, parents, and their friends. Investigations covered criminal history, foreign influence, financial status, and overall reliability to ensure individuals couldn’t be coerced by foreign governments. She underwent two polygraph tests, one lasting eight hours and another six.

Financial Transactions Under Scrutiny

Reports indicate Bryon Noem allegedly spent at least $25,000 on “bimbo” fetish sites to interact with online models. Walder emphasized that such financial transactions could have compromised both him and Kristi Noem, and would have been flagged during a standard vetting process.

She referenced the case of Aldrich Ames, who used funds from the Soviet Union to purchase a house and luxury items, highlighting the importance of monitoring financial activity. Walder believes Noem’s husband’s spending would likely be considered unusual and warrant investigation.

Security Clearance Implications

Attorney Bradley P. Moss stated that in a typical scenario, information about a cleared employee’s spouse living a “secret double life” would trigger serious security scrutiny. National security lawyer Dan Meyer clarified that the issue isn’t the sexual preferences themselves, but the potential for exploitation.

Consensual Activity and Risk

Meyer explained that while consensual and legal activities generally don’t impact security clearances, the risk of blackmail remains. He cautioned against recording intimate content, as it could be used for coercion. This risk extends to spouses and partners.

The photos of Bryon Noem were first published by the Daily Mail on Tuesday. Questions are now being raised about when Kristi Noem became aware of her husband’s online activity.