Greg Bovino was under investigation when he retired, records show

( WGN ) – Recently released federal records show Homeland Security officials had launched an internal investigation into controversial Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino shortly before he announced his retirement in March.

The notification from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Professional Standards was dated March 2, roughly two weeks before Bovino publicly announced his retirement.

Investigators asked Bovino to respond in writing to a series of questions about incidents in Chicago and Minneapolis. The questions involving Operation Midway Blitz focused on a federal judge’s finding that Bovino lacked credibility and misled the court. Investigators asked: Did he admit in his deposition that he “lied multiple times about events that occurred in Little Village and prompted him to throw tear gas at protesters?”

Investigators also asked whether he knew concerns about his credibility could jeopardize his ability to testify in cases against protesters and others.

“What do you think should happen to a U.S. Border Patrol agent when a U.S. District judge finds his testimony not credible?” investigators asked in their demand for information from Bovino.

Bovino told Nexstar’s WGN via direct message:

“There were TWO investigations if you look. One I found out about from NY Times when they called me asking about an investigation! lol. Unprecedented to find out about being investigated by the media. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott weaponized Office of Professional responsibility (internal affairs for CBP) to kill off a rival and ensure President Trump’s mass deportation effort failed. The upcoming midterms will be a direct result of his actions to go after a rival.”

“There were TWO investigations if you look. One I found out about from NY Times when they called me asking about an investigation! lol. Unprecedented to find out about being investigated by the media.

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott weaponized Office of Professional responsibility (internal affairs for CBP) to kill off a rival and ensure President Trump’s mass deportation effort failed. The upcoming midterms will be a direct result of his actions to go after a rival.”

The Chicago Tribune was first to report on the investigation into Bovino’s conduct.

Bovino has doubled down on his hardline approach since leaving the government, claiming without evidence more than 100 million people may be in the United States illegally. He has blasted his former administration colleagues for toning down his confrontational enforcement techniques and suggested President Trump is being misled by senior aides who are too soft on immigration.

DHS’s Office of Professional Standards also asked Bovino about a comment he allegedly made in a meeting with federal prosecutors and other officials in Minneapolis. Bovino was asked about reports that he made a potentially offensive remark when he responded to being told an assistant U.S. Attorney would not respond to calls on Saturdays because he is an Orthodox Jew.

“Did you make a comment to the effect of ‘Do Orthodox criminals also take off Saturday?'” investigators asked.

The files were released under the Freedom of Information Act and posted on DHS’s website.