U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus was given an ultimatum last week by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: Resign from your position, or be handed your walking papers.
The choice came in the wake of a bombshell report last month from Politico that cited five unnamed sources claiming Magnus had apparently lost interest in protecting the southern U.S. border. The sources reportedly described the CBP head as “disengaged” from his duties, claiming he tended to doze off during important meetings and belittle other government agencies.
NEW: CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus has officially resigned, and the White House says the resignation has been accepted by President Biden. @FoxNews
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) November 13, 2022
Magnus told the Los Angeles Times on Friday that he would not step down from his duties before doing so just a day later.
“I expressed to him that I felt there was no justification for me to resign when I still cared deeply about the work I was doing and felt that that work was focused on the things I was hired to do in the first place,” Magnus told the outlet before submitting his resignation.
However, when Magnus resigned on Saturday and submitted his letter of resignation to the Biden administration, both sides played nice for the camera.
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Senate confirmed Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the past year. It has been a privilege and honor to be part of your administration,” his resignation letter read.
The White House responded in a statement, thanking him for his service as a police chief and the CBP commish.
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