US Homeland Security Launches Internal Probe into Alleged Anti-Semitic Remarks by Former Trump Official
The US Department of Homeland Security has initiated a formal internal investigation into whether Gregory Bovino, the former architect of President Donald Trump's large-scale immigration enforcement operations, made disparaging comments about the Jewish faith while criticising the US attorney for Minnesota. This inquiry, conducted by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), follows reports from major news outlets alleging inappropriate remarks during a coordination call.
Standard Procedure Amid Congressional Inquiry
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the investigation in an emailed statement on Wednesday, emphasising that it represents standard protocol. "Following a letter from a Congressman inquiring about reporting on anonymous allegations, CBP opened an internal inquiry to determine the full story," the statement read. "This is standard procedure and does NOT indicate any confirmation of wrongdoing." Customs and Border Protection operates as a key component within the broader Homeland Security framework.
Allegations Stem from January Phone Call
The investigation was prompted by reports from The New York Times and CBS News, which detailed remarks Bovino allegedly made during a January 12th phone call. This call was organised to coordinate a Saturday meeting discussing the deployment of immigration agents in the Minneapolis area. According to these reports, Bovino allegedly complained that Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen was unavailable for part of the weekend due to observing the Sabbath, a Jewish religious practice from sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday.
Bovino is accused of using the term "chosen people" in a derogatory manner and asking sarcastically whether Rosen understood that some Orthodox Jewish individuals do not take the Sabbath off work. "Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?" he reportedly questioned, as cited by CBS News. The Times noted that Rosen had delegated the call to a deputy and was not personally involved in the conversation.
Official Inquiry into Unprofessional Conduct
The New York Times first broke the news of the investigation, revealing that an investigator from CBP's office of professional responsibility had commenced an "official inquiry into the allegation" that Bovino made "unprofessional comments." This development adds to the scrutiny surrounding Bovino's conduct during his tenure as a prominent figure in immigration enforcement.
Background on Bovino's Role and Recent Controversies
Gregory Bovino served as the public face of the Trump administration's city-by-city immigration sweeps until late January. As Border Patrol chief, he led operations in major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans before overseeing what Homeland Security described as its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota in December. His removal from a leading role followed the fatal shootings of 37-year-old mother Renee Good and 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis on separate days, incidents that sparked nationwide protests and criticism of Homeland Security's use-of-force policies.
In a related development, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced on Monday that her office would investigate Bovino and other federal officers for misconduct, specifically examining an instance where Bovino allegedly threw a smoke canister at protesters on January 21st. Homeland Security responded by asserting that states lack the authority to prosecute federal officers, highlighting the ongoing legal and jurisdictional complexities.
This story has been corrected to reflect that the Department of Homeland Security issued its emailed statement on Wednesday, not Tuesday, ensuring accuracy in the timeline of events.
