WASHINGTON—On the evening of Jan. 25, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry ended up in a memorable spot: in the home of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, standing before him and Kristi Noem.
As Landry held a bible that had belonged to Noem’s late father, Thomas swore her into her new federal role. Hours after the Senate confirmed her nomination, Noem was officially President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary.
How did all the pieces fall into place?
The tale begins in a New Year’s tragedy: Bourbon Street, the place where America goes to party, was targeted by a radical Islamic terrorist, U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar….