Greg Bovino Faces Backlash After Reportedly Mocking U.S. Attorney’s Jewish Faith in DOJ Call
Minneapolis — A senior U.S. Border Patrol leader is under scrutiny for allegedly mocking the Jewish faith of Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor in a call with Justice Department lawyers just days before a wave of career prosecutor resignations.
According to reporting that cites The New York Times, Border Patrol field leader Gregory Bovino made sarcastic comments about U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen’s religion during a January 12 phone call, highlighting that Rosen observes Shabbat and making a quip about the “chosen people.”
Rosen, who serves as the U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota and is an Orthodox Jew, delegates much enforcement coordination but was reportedly the subject of frustration from Bovino for limited weekend availability.
The remarks came amid rising tensions over federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, where local protests have intensified after two separate deadly confrontations involving ICE and Border Patrol agents.
The day after the call, six federal prosecutors announced resignations in protest of DOJ leadership’s handling of enforcement cases — a rare departure that has raised questions about morale and management.
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“This kind of commentary has no place in serious legal coordination,” said one legal ethics expert, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing cases.
The fallout highlights strains between federal law enforcement officials and DOJ lawyers, particularly over authority and prosecutorial discretion in high-stakes Minneapolis cases.
It matters because federal attorneys are expected to operate free of religious or personal bias and comments seen as diminishing an official’s faith could undermine trust and cooperation inside the department.
Reporters and officials are now watching for responses from the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and Rosen’s office — including whether there will be formal reviews or disciplinary action.
What happens next will hinge on whether DOJ or DHS issues statements, and if the resignations prompt broader policy changes or leadership shifts.
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