Border Patrol leader accused of mocking Jewish US attorney for Shabbat observance
U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino stands with federal agents outside a convenience store in Minneapolis. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/The Associated Press)
U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino is accused of making derisive remarks about the faith of Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, who was unavailable to take part in a phone call because he was observing the Jewish tradition of Shabbat, according to the New York Times.
The incident happened a day before six federal prosecutors resigned in protest over the Department of Justice’s handling of the killing of 37-year-old local resident Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Bovino had requested a meeting with Rosen to press the Minnesota office to work more aggressively to seek criminal charges against people he thought were unlawfully impeding the work of his immigration agents.
Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, observes Shabbat, a period of rest between Friday and Saturday nights that often includes refraining from using electronic devices. He delegated the call to a deputy. During the call, with a handful of prosecutors listening in, Bovino complained that Rosen had been unreachable for portions of the weekend because of Shabbat. Bovino’s remarks followed his complaints about having difficulty reaching Rosen, the New York Times reports.
According to several people with knowledge of the conversation, which happened Jan. 12, Bovino used the term “chosen people” in a mocking way. He also asked, sarcastically, whether Rosen understood that Orthodox Jewish criminals don’t take weekends off, according to the story.
See also:
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
