Kristi Noem hearing live: Trump's Homeland Security pick to face questions on bold border plans

A different 'puppy dog' prevented South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem from being selected as Donald Trump's running mate, a bombshell new book claims.

Noem received a flurry of criticism when she admitted to shooting her 14-month-old wirehair pointer puppy Cricket dead in her memoir released in May.

But in Alex Isenstadt's forthcoming book Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power, the Politico journalist wrote that there were concerns among Trump's aides about Noem's extramarital relationship.

He writes that Noem, 53, was still engaged in an affair with former Trump 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, 51, as Trump hunted for his second-term vice president.

'Within Trumpworld, people had long gossiped that Noem had been having a prolonged extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski,' Isenstadt wrote. 'They were together all the time, and Lewandowski followed the governor around like a puppy dog.'

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has defended shooting her puppy after her confession sparked massive backlash.

Noem caused a storm last year after she revealed she shot the puppy, a 14-month-old named Cricket, in her upcoming book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.

Responding to the backlash, Noem said she 'can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket.'

The Republican continued: 'The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned. What I learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from tough challenges.

'My hope is anyone reading this book will have an understanding that I always work to make the best decisions I can for the people in my life.

The International Union of Police Associations has thrown its weight behind South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security, and is demanding her rapid Senate confirmation.

In a letter to Sen. Rand Paul, the incoming chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the union's president spells out why Noem is the best person to stem an 'epidemic of crime' caused by weak enforcement of immigration laws.

'The United States Senate must confirm Gov. Noem as soon as possible,' writes Samuel A. Cabral, in a letter obtained by DailyMail.com.

'The border security crisis demands immediate action, we cannot afford to wait on this critical job in President Trump's Administration.

'Confirming Kristi Noem is a national security priority.'

Kristi Noem will confirm that securing the nation's borders will be a top priority of Donald Trump's administration.

The South Dakota Governor will be trying to lock down her nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

'Securing our homeland is a serious, sacred trust that must be relentlessly pursued and can never be taken for granted. Being safe within our borders is an American right, yet Americans feel less safe than they have in decades. For the first time in 30 years, more than 40% of Americans are afraid to walk alone at night within a mile of their home,' Noem is expected to tell the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday morning in her opening remarks, according to Fox News.

'President-Elect Trump is going to change that.'