Two senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are under investigation for partying with a tequila mogul in Mexico, where they discussed the possibility of creating a CBP-themed tequila for the agency’s 100th anniversary.
Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens and Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez visited wealthy distiller Francisco Javier González, grandson of Don Julio’s founder, in Jalisco in February. It is said that NBC News reported Wednesday.
The agency said it was investigating whether the two men disclosed any relationships with foreign nationals, which is required of top secret holders, and whether they accepted anything that violated its code of ethics. Three people familiar with the matter told the station.
photograph Post to Instagram In February, Owens and Chavez performed a show with Gonzalez, who hosted the Mind Mexico event, at Tequila Casa de los Gonzalez, his family’s distillery complex about a two-hour flight from San Antonio. do.
At the event, Owens can be seen drinking wine and enjoying a cigar next to Chavez.
Two Homeland Security officials told NBC News that Gonzalez’s relationship with CBP officials dates back to July 2023, when the Tequila heir hosted a party for CBP leaders in Laredo, Texas. That’s what it means.
Gonzalez, Owens and Chavez are said to have discussed creating Border Patrol-branded tequila as part of the agency’s multi-day 100th anniversary celebration at the El Paso Convention Center. Kickoff on May 25th.
However, the tequila idea was put on hold during the investigation, sources told the outlet.
“CBP trusts its senior leaders and holds them to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism,” a spokesperson told the Post in a statement Wednesday night when contacted about the investigation. .
“In line with our commitment to accountability, we thoroughly investigate all allegations and take appropriate steps to address issues identified during the investigation,” the spokesperson said. added.
“CBP continues to strengthen its commitment to agency standards at all levels.”
The newspaper also reached out to Owens for comment.
Even without tequila, the CBP 100th Anniversary Celebration will go ahead as scheduled with help from four major sponsors. Three of the companies reportedly received hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts with CBP.
Daniel Bryan, executive director of the nonprofit watchdog group Government Oversight Project, told NBC News that this “raises a million red flags about the suitability of government contractors serving public sector customers.” he said.
CBP said its leadership is working to ensure that all events planned during the celebration meet the necessary ethical standards.
