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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem officially filed for divorce from her husband, Bryon Noem, on Monday, South Dakota court records accessed by Newsweek show.
The divorce filing comes months after a report by The Daily Mail laid out claims that Bryon Noem led a double life that included wearing fake breasts and speaking to fetish models online. The article included photos the outlet said were of the Trump administration special envoy's husband wearing leggings and the false breasts, sent in a messaging app. Hundreds of messages were allegedly exchanged with women in “bimbofication" communities, a fetish subculture centered on exaggerated hyper-feminine transformation.
Kristi Noem's Monday filing comes after she said she planned to divorce Bryon earlier this year.
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"Kristi Noem has filed for the dissolution of her marriage to Bryon Noem," attorney Michael Sabers told Newsweek on behalf of Noem. "She has great faith in the South Dakota judicial system and will reserve any further comments for the legal process."
Newsweek reached out to Bryon Noem's attorney by email for comment on Tuesday.
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Who Is Bryon Noem?
Bryon Noem is a South Dakota native. According to his official biography from the National Governors Association, he grew up on a farm and has remained involved in rural community life throughout adulthood.
After earning a degree from Northern State University, he spent several years in banking and financial services before launching his crop insurance agency.
Why Kristi Noem's Marriage Has Drawn Attention
The Noems' marriage was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year following the report about Bryon Noem, but allegations that Kristi Noem had an affair with Trump ally Corey Lewandowski have also drawn attention to their marriage.
Timeline of Kristi Noem and Bryon Noem's Relationship Fallout
A full timeline of the first Daily Mail report and everything that followed is below.
March 5, 2026: Kristi Noem is fired as Homeland Security secretary and was assigned as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. This development came almost a month before reports of her husband cross-dressing emerged.
March 31, 2026: A Daily Mail report alleging that Bryon Noem led a secret life and exchanged messages with online performers was published. Shortly after, Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump, and members of the MAGA community issued statements about the report.
"Ms. Noem is devastated. The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time,” Kristi Noem’s representatives told The New York Post at the time of the report.
"They confirmed it? Wow, well, I feel badly for the family if that's the case, that's too bad," Trump said at the time.
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April 2026: Bryon Noem issued his first known response to the report, telling The New York Times that he would eventually grant an interview about the allegations. “I will at some point. Today is not the day. I appreciate your heart,” he said.
April 2026: More women came forward saying that they had communicated with Bryon Noem, including Webcam model Lydia Love, who said Noem was her client.
Summer 2026: More claims surfaced regarding the reports, including from a Colorado sex worker who said that Bryon Noem used a phone related to his insurance business for paid calls.
July 2026: Kristi Noem’s mother, Corinne Arnold, told the Daily Mail that her daughter planned to divorce Bryon Noem. Arnold also addressed rumors that Kristi Noem had an affair with Lewandowski. Arnold insisted Noem "would never do that" when addressing the affair rumors.
September 28, 2026: Kristi Noem officially files for divorce, according to court documents.
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Judges Sound Favorable of Possible Kristi Noem Criminal Probe
When Kristi and Bryon Noem Married
Kristi and Bryon married in 1992 in Watertown, South Dakota. They met in high school.
What Happens Next
The time it takes to finalize a divorce varies widely. Uncontested divorces can be finalized in as little as one month, while contested proceedings can take a year or longer. It is unclear if Bryon Noem is contesting the divorce.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
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