And now for something completely different. It’s even a touch on the lighter side. Just a touch. This is rich. What a story to come out. It’s not going to reflect well on Trump, and it would have been Krispi, but now it’s Markwayne. (We need a nickname for him.) The new DHS chief is going to have a good time spinning this one. CBP is already getting noticed for all the things they do wrong, and this is the icing on the cake. With sprinkles. With gratitude to Raw Story:
Six current and former Border Patrol agents are coming forward to accuse the agency’s chief, Michael Banks, of repeatedly soliciting sex workers while overseas, reported the conservative Washington Examiner on Wednesday. “Banks ‘bragged‘ to colleagues while in his previous management role at Border Patrol about paying for sex with prostitutes while traveling in Colombia and Thailand over the course of a decade,” said the report.
“Banks’ behavior was said to have been investigated by Customs and Border Protection officials twice, including last year, but the investigation ended abruptly while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in office, leading to more questions.”
Now isn’t that interesting? There’s always corruption in any organization, but this is a bit much. Why did Krispi shut down the investigation? Since he’s the agency’s chief, she had to have known. It could have been a quid pro quo involving her love nest in the sky and his solicitations. She won’t tell if he won’t tell. It’s as good a theory as any. But seriously, I have no workable ideas.
One of the sources, who claims Banks tried to invite him along on one of these trips, told the Examiner, “I don’t know how he became the chief of the Border Patrol with his character. He’s going to third-world countries to take advantage of poor f—— women, which disgusts the hell out of me.”
Another source said, “He would tell people that’s why he was going on these trips — he would go there to engage in activities with prostitutes. So I think those stories are out everywhere, and you can’t put them away or not give them attention because he was the one telling people about these trips.”
Here’s a note from the Washington Examiner article: “In our line of work, part of what we do is try to combat the trafficking of females, that is part of our job,” the same person said. “It’s counter to what we do or what we should be standing for. If you’re partaking in those activities, you’re supporting the trafficking and exploitation of women.”
Oooo, do I agree! I’ve known people from other countries. They’ve been desperate enough to go get jobs as prostitutes, because it’s steady money and they can send help home to their families. I can’t imagine it, but then I grew up in the US. I admire their courage for choosing and sticking with such a demeaning, dehumanizing job. To find out about a chief going to countries to literally screw around with prostitutes is horrifying. We have enough trouble with ICE and CBP without adding in a “leader’ like this. And he never got dinged for it??!!!
This comes after Noem herself was fired from her old role by the Trump administration, after she claimed in a congressional hearing that President Donald Trump had signed off on a highly controversial taxpayer-funded $200 million ad campaign that plastered her face all over the country — something Trump has denied was the case.
It also comes as another high-ranking figure in Border Patrol, Greg Bovino, was forced aside amid national outrage about his handling of the federal takeover of Minneapolis, which resulted in the deaths of two people and widespread demonstrations against the occupation.
Yep, more leaders in DHS made a mess. With all that going on with Bozo Bovino and the two killings, one would think she would be a little more cautious in what she said. But it’s too late now, and now it’s in Markwayne’s lap. How much do you want to bet he’ll try to sweep this under the rug? At the very least, the chief should be fired for it. They could find a way. This is the Trump administration, after all, and they can figure out ways to do just about everything, but not all. The report is public, and it makes CBP look very, very bad. If Trump notices, with the war going on, he’ll figure out how bad that’s making *him* look, too.
We have a border chief who goes out of the country to play with prostitutes. I hope he paid them enough money. What a sexist, arrogant, braggadocio, disgusting man.
See you tomorrow!
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise that among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Susan, your use of insulting and sometimes juvenile nicknames is so trump-like and unnecessary. Please give it some thought.
I certainly will!
The use of nicknames came from a writing class. It is supposed to indicate a lack of respect. I had not, however, considered they would be Trump-like. Ouch.
Also, some of the nicknames I use are ones that the employees working under them have given them, such as Dumb McNamara. Nevertheless, your request is being considered.