CBP internal inquiry orders Bovino to answer questions on Judge Ellis's credibility findings; he moves to retire 16 days later

On March 2, 2026, an assistant director in CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) emailed Gregory Bovino, then still Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector, a “compelled statement” directive. It opened with “I am conducting an official Inquiry into allegations of misconduct reported to CBP,” told him to answer an unsworn declaration “Fully and truthfully answer all questions posed on the attached Declaration,” and set a deadline of “5:00 P.M. today (March 2, 2026).” The email warned of “discipline up to and include removal” for failure to cooperate. The declaration form recites that a materially false statement “can be prosecuted under Title 18”.

The questions include two on Judge Sara Ellis’s Opinion and Order in Chicago Headline Club v. Noem (N.D. Ill., No. 1:25-cv-12173; filed 11/20/25). The form quotes her finding that “the Court specifically finds his testimony not credible” and asks whether the findings would have to be disclosed if he testified at trial and whether they make him “Giglio impaired” (CBS’s rendering of that question). It also asks about a remark put to him as “Do Orthodox criminals also take off Saturday?” and about a “chosen people” comment. KSTP reports the investigators asked what he allegedly said after learning “U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen would not attend a Saturday meeting because he observes the Sabbath.” Bovino’s answers are redacted or blank in the released copy. CBP released the records “in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation”; the package was posted in August 2026 and reported in early September 2026.

What followed is documented only from Bovino’s own email and CBP’s statement. On March 18, 2026 he wrote to CBP human resources that he was “set to retire next week” and asked to begin the Senior Executive Service relocation process, 16 days after the directive. CBP’s statement to CBS is “Bovino voluntarily retired from CBP.” Bovino told CBS he was “forced to retire” and that Commissioner Rodney Scott pursued him because he was “a political rival.” The released package contains no outcome of the inquiry, no finding, and no referral to prosecutors or an inspector general.

The order that carried the court’s finding was vacated days later (see 2026-03-05–seventh-circuit-vacates-ellis-injunction-chicago-headline-club). In the released package, the internal inquiry is the only step directed at the finding.