Former Border Patrol 'Commander at Large' Greg Bovino To Retire To Formal Firing Over Investigations Into His Conduct: Report

Shortly after immigration operations in Minnesota spiraled out of control in late January that ended with the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of agents, Border Patrol's "commander at large" Greg Bovino was removed from that role and returned to his previous post as a Border Patrol sector chief in California.

According to a Department of Homeland Security insider, Bovino is now opting to retire rather than face formal ouster as he contends with multiple investigations into his conduct, including one over controversial remarks he made about the Jewish faith of Minnesota's top federal prosecutor during an immigration operation.

"He sees where the wind is blowing," the DHS insider told the Daily Beast. "He's got an internal investigation looming, he's already been sent back to El Centro, and now with (Kristi) Noem out, it's a sign of things to come. He chose to jump before he was pushed."

Bovino announced his decision to retire on March 16, saying he planned to leave the agency by the end of March. Having served nearly three decades with Border Patrol, Bovino was eligible for retirement and just one year away from CBP's mandatory retirement age of 57.

First reported by The New York Times earlier this month, the investigation centers on a phone call in January in which multiple sources say Bovino complained that U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, was hard to reach on weekends because he observes Shabbat, a 25-hour period of rest that begins Friday at sundown and often includes refraining from using electronic devices.

Sources familiar with the matter told The New York Times that Bovino used the term "chosen people" while expressing his frustration and asked sarcastically whether Orthodox Jewish criminals also took the weekend off.

John Breckenridge, an investigator with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office of professional responsibility, told the outlet he had opened an official investigation into the matter, despite a DHS spokesperson dismissing the report as gossip.

As noted by the Daily Beast, this is just one of several investigations surrounding Bovino's behavior as head of Border Patrol.

According to the outlet, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced a criminal investigation involving Bovino after a confrontation with protesters near a Minneapolis park on Jan. 21. Video captured him telling protesters, "I'm going to gas — get back! — gas is coming," before throwing a gas canister in their direction.

The New York Times also noted that a federal judge last year criticized Bovino for his use of tear gas in the Chicago area, finding that he had, in one instance, falsely claimed a protester struck him with a rock before deploying gas.

As chaos unfolded during Minnesota's immigration crackdown, Bovino was removed from his command role and asked to leave the state following the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, the two U.S. citizens killed during federal operations.

Rumors that he had been dismissed were denied by Trump administration officials. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a social media post that Bovino had "not been relieved of his duties" and remained "a key part of the President's team and a great American."

The Daily Beast reached out to DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment, but a DHS spokesperson confirmed that Bovino had not submitted any retirement paperwork.