By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A Border Patrol agent has been disciplined for speaking to the media, the National Review reports.
By speaking to the media, Agent Ron Zermeno violated an “cease and desist” order to stop issuing statements that contain “Law Enforcement sensitive” information to the media.
Zermeno, who is the health and safety director of the National Border Patrol Council Local 1613, spoke out about the cease and desist.
CBP recommended that Zermeno be reprimanded for unauthorized disclosure and failure to follow instructions.
But Zermeno allegedly ignored the order about a month after the gag order.
“You willfully abandoned your responsibilities as a Border Patrol Agent and potentially placed several persons at risk,” the CBP wrote.
Others have defended Zermeno, including a staff member of ranking Republican Senator Tom Coburn.
“We’ve reviewed, and I’ve reviewed his comments, and I don’t think he has released anything that would violate law-enforcement sensitivities,” the staffer says. “I can’t see what he released that would have done any harm, but I’m willing to keep an open mind to that. I just don’t see it. I think he’s a good American who’s done the right thing.”
