A witness at the center of House Republicans’ investigation into the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border has allegedly been retaliated against for their cooperation, prompting lawmakers to open an inquiry into possible government interference.
Republicans on the House Oversight and Homeland Security committees sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Friday demanding information about the reassignment of Gregory Bovino, who said he was “relieved of his command” after conducting a transcribed interview with lawmakers earlier this month. Bovino previously oversaw the El Centro Sector of the border before he was “indefinitely” reassigned to report to the CBP office in Washington, D.C.
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“The whistleblower indicates that this pattern is consistent with a common CBP practice to get rid of employees perceived as problematic by high-level officials by forcing those employees, out of frustration, to relocate, retire, or resign,” Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) wrote in a letter to Troy Miller, the senior official performing the duties of the commissioner.
Lawmakers initially requested Bovino to testify before the House Oversight Committee in January along with three other CBP officials, but all three were blocked from participating, according to the chairmen. That refusal may have partially been due to written testimony Bovino prepared in advance of the hearing that was “dissatisfactory to CBP officials,” a whistleblower told the committees.
Bovino was then allegedly “verbally reprimanded” by border officials, according to the letter.
One month later, Comer requested Bovino and other officials sit for transcribed interviews with the Oversight Committee to detail the state of the southwest border. That interview later took place on July 12.
However, Bovino was later informed “within hours” of that interview that he would be “relieved of command … effective immediately” and would be placed on a temporary duty assignment, according to the chairmen.
“The whistleblower describes that temporary assignment as one of no certain mission, no articulable purpose, and without any timeline of completion,” Comer and Green wrote.
The allegations have ignited concern of government interference into the congressional investigation, prompting the committee chairmen to open an investigation into the matter.
“Any retaliation against witnesses who cooperate with Congressional inquiries will not be tolerated, especially when that retaliation may have been committed by government officials,” they wrote. “Additionally, obstruction of Congressional investigations is a crime and will not be tolerated.”
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The lawmakers demanded Miller produce all documents detailing Bovino’s reassignment as well any communications related to Bovino’s testimony before Congress. Miller has until Aug. 4 to comply with the request.
Comer and Green also demanded the CBP official schedule a meeting with committee staff members sometime before July 28 to brief them on the matter. It’s not yet clear whether CBP will comply with the demands, and a spokesperson has not responded to a request for comment by the Washington Examiner.