Reports have claimed that the husband of former US Department of Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Kristi Noem, secretly cross-dresses and paid thousands to speak to online fetish models.
Noem has not long departed her role as head of the DHS, with news of her husband's apparent 'second life' coming to light on Tuesday (31 March).
An investigation from the Daily Mail has allegedly discovered some online messages and images of Bryon Noem, 56, who was taking part in a number of online fetish forums.
Some of the photos included his face, as some included the former first gentleman of South Dakota sporting some pink hot pants and massive fake breasts which looked to be made of balloons.
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In a statement to the New York Post, a representative for Kristi admitted: "Ms. Noem is devastated. The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time."
It comes during a difficult few weeks for Noem. Last month, she was asked during a hearing attended by her husband if she had had 'sexual relations' with her advisor Corey Lewandowski.
She hit back at Democrat representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove for 'peddling tabloid garbage' for asking the question.
President Donald Trump has now responded to the reports about Bryon's cross-dressing, as he told the Daily Mail: "I feel badly for the family."
"They confirmed it? Wow, well, I feel badly for the family if that's the case, that's too bad, I haven't seen anything.
"I don't know anything about it. That's too bad, but I just know nothing about it."
What is bimbofication and why are the Bryon Noem revelations so controversial
It was reported that Bryon had paid at least $25,000 to chat to models in what's known as the 'bimbofication scene', as it fetishises performers who willingly turn themselves into real-life dolls.
They can use silicone injections and surgical enhancements to achieve this look.
The publication reported that Bryon would praise these models and claim that he loves 'huge, huge ridiculous boobs', while allegedly hinting at his marriage to the government official.
The real reason this is controversial is because Bryon allegedly did not take steps to conceal his identity on the fetish forums, raising questions of blackmail exposure and security clearance standards.
Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos told the Daily Mail that if journalists had managed to track down this information about Bryon, then the intelligence services of hostile governments almost certainly had too.
Who is Bryon Noem?
Kristi and Bryon attended the same high school in South Dakota. They were two years apart, but knew each other as Bryon was friends with Kristi's older brother.
They married in 1992 when Kristi was just 20 years old. Before Kristi transitioned into politics, they worked on her family ranch together.
Nowadays, Bryon runs Noem Insurance, a crop insurance agency in Castlewood, South Dakota.
Kristi and Bryon have three adult children together: daughters Kassidy and Kennedy and son Booker.
They are grandparents to Kassidy and Kennedy's children, too.
Why was Kristi Noem fired as DHS chief?
Kristi was relieved of her duties as head of the DHS last month, as Trump reappointed her as special envoy to the newly created 'Shield of the Americas' initiative, which is focused on border security.
She was constantly questioned over her policy decisions and management of the department, with her firing coming after she chose to personally review every Federal Emergency Management Agency contract and grant over $100,000.
This meant that reimbursements to communities that were waiting for extended periods of time were delayed further, with tensions rising as regions who were in dire need of support were left in purgatory.
The government official also faced backlash after the controversial killings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, earlier this year.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News
Joshua Nair