Just a week after her departure as the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem has reportedly been “blindsided” by a new report about her longtime husband, Bryon Noem.

A Daily Mail investigation published on Tuesday, March 31, reportedly uncovered online messages and photos of Bryon, 56, participating in online fetish forums. The photos, some of which include Bryon’s face, show the former first gentleman of South Dakota dressed in pink hot pants and massive fake breasts apparently made of balloons.

He also reportedly paid at least $25,000 to chat with online fetish models in the “bimbofication scene,” which fetishizes performers who turn themselves into real-life dolls by using silicone injections and surgical enhancements.

DM reported that the messages show Bryon praising the models and stating that he loves “huge, huge ridiculous boobs.” He also reportedly alluded to his marriage to the high-ranking government official.

In a statement shared with the New York Post on Tuesday, a representative for Kristi said, “Ms. Noem is devastated. The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time.”

Kristi and Bryon married in 1992 and share three grown children: daughters Kassidy and Kennedy and son Booker. They are also grandparents to Kassidy and Kennedy’s children.

PEOPLE has reached out to Bryon and the State Department, which oversees Kristi’s new role as a special envoy to the Shield of the Americas, for comment.

Bryon came to Washington, D.C., to support Kristi during her combative congressional hearings earlier this month, which some insiders say motivated President Donald Trump‘s decision to oust her as the DHS leader.

She faced questions about her department’s recent immigration enforcement activities, including the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, as well as her creation of a $220 million, taxpayer-funded ad campaign that encouraged undocumented immigrants to self-deport.

Kristi was also asked about her alleged relationship with adviser Corey Lewandowski, with whom she is rumored to be having an affair. The pair has vehemently denied the rumors, especially after a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, which alleged that Lewandowski had a U.S. Coast Guard pilot fired after Noem’s blanket was left on a plane.

With Bryon sat just a few rows behind her, Kristi was asked by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) if she “had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski.” She fired back, “I am shocked we’re going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee.”

She went on to downplay Lewandowski’s influence on DHS, insisting he did not have any authority to make official decisions.

“He is a special government employee who works for the White House,” Noem said of the role, a designation that limits how many days someone can work for the federal government each year. “There are thousands of them in the federal government.”

Reports about a possible romance between the two, who are both married to other people, have circulated for years, dating back to Noem’s time as governor of South Dakota.