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By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
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A Colorado sex worker says Bryon Noem used a phone number tied to his insurance business for paid calls over several years.
A new interview details his reported interest in transitioning and his long‑running online relationship with a dominatrix. The claims intensify scrutiny on former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose anti‑trans agenda shaped national policy and whose family now faces renewed ethical and security questions.
Shy Sotomayor, a dominatrix known online as Raelynn Riley and who spoke with Uncloseted Media, said Bryon Noem repeatedly contacted her through a number associated with Noem Insurance Group. She shared recordings and messages she says document years of paid calls and personal conversations.
The number matches one previously linked to Bryon Noem in reporting from April by The Independent, which also reviewed messages in which he discussed feminization and a desire to be called “Crystal.” He pushed back on the allegations at the time, telling The Independent only that the claims are “not all true.” He has not addressed which parts he disputes.
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Newsweek sent a text message seeking comment to Bryon Noem. An email requesting comment was also sent to a representative for Kristi Noem.
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Who Is Kristi Noem’s Husband, Bryon?
Bryon Noem, 56, is a South Dakota insurance executive who has largely remained outside public view despite his wife’s high‑profile political career. The couple has been married for more than 30 years and has long presented themselves as a conservative Christian family.
That image has been challenged as multiple women have come forward describing paid online relationships with him dating back years. Sotomayor and others say Bryon Noem used pseudonyms, including “Crystal” and an email address containing “Chrystalballz666,” while engaging in sessions centered on feminization and transition‑related fantasies.
“He repeatedly asked to go by Crystal," Sotomayor said in the interview. "He said, ‘I will be your trans girl.’”
Sotomayor said she did not initially know his identity and discovered it only after reviewing a PayPal invoice in which he failed to switch aliases.
Kristi Noem Husband Controversy: What We Know
Sotomayor told Uncloseted Media that Bryon Noem paid her tens of thousands of dollars over nearly a decade, sometimes through Amazon gift cards and later through digital platforms. She said he used his business phone to arrange calls and payments — a detail that has drawn attention from ethics and national‑security experts.
A former CIA officer told the Daily Mail that such conduct could create vulnerabilities if a hostile intelligence service identified the behavior. Sotomayor said Bryon Noem continued contacting her even as reporting intensified, calling him a “loose cannon” who did not appear concerned about exposure.
The allegations also clash with Kristi Noem’s political record. As governor of South Dakota, she signed laws restricting gender‑affirming care for minors, limiting trans participation in sports, and allowing businesses to deny services to LGBTQ people. Sotomayor said Bryon Noem’s private behavior stood in stark contrast to his wife’s public agenda.
“I knew he was in my DMs saying, ‘I want to be trans, bimbo, I want to get hair implants, I wanna get breast implants, I wanna do all of this kind of transitioning,’" said Sotomayor. Then, later, added, "And then he goes on interviews and be like, 'Oh, my wife is God’s gift to me, and she’s right in everything that she does.”
Sotomayor also described him as unconcerned about exposure. “Anytime I talked to him and was like, ‘Hey, people could find us out,’ he’s like, ‘I don’t care.’”
When and Why Was Kristi Noem Fired?
Kristi Noem was removed as Secretary of Homeland Security in March after a contentious period marked by internal criticism, congressional scrutiny, and fallout from her handling of immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump reassigned her to a diplomatic role shortly afterward.
Her firing coincided with the early stages of reporting about her husband’s alleged online conduct. Sotomayor said she feared retaliation at the time because Kristi Noem was overseeing ICE operations, and she lived near a detention center in Colorado.
What Is “Bimbofication”?
“Bimbofication” is a fetish involving exaggerated femininity, often centered on hyper‑stylized or hyper‑sexualized appearances. Women who interacted with Noem say he expressed a desire for implants, facial feminization, hair changes, and clothing associated with the aesthetic.
Sotomayor said Noem described wanting to “be your trans girl” and frequently used feminine language to describe himself during sessions. She said the intensity of his fixation suggested something beyond fantasy.
What Happens Next
The allegations continue to unfold as more women come forward and as Bryon Noem faces mounting questions about his conduct, the use of his business resources, and the potential implications for his wife’s political future.
Neither Bryon nor Kristi Noem has offered a detailed public response.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas
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