from the moral-turpitude-is-my-middle-name dept
I’m not right here to kink disgrace or recommend intercourse work isn’t work. I’m not right here to say that each intercourse employee is a sufferer of intercourse trafficking. I’m not even right here to recommend that authorities officers shouldn’t be allowed to alternate cash for items and sexual providers. In the event that they’re not on the clock, I’m not right here to guage their off-duty actions.
The issue right here is that this particular person — the nationwide chief of the Border Patrol — apparently insisted on making everybody conscious of his off-duty actions. These actions apparently included intercourse tourism. And it’s positively not an ideal look when the locations you’re bragging about are extraordinarily problematic — the type of locations the place intercourse trafficking is widespread and often frequented by folks searching for stuff that positively isn’t authorized of their residence nations.
The Washington Instances — which is mostly very pro-conservative — first broke the news about national Border Patrol chief Michael Banks and his alleged fondness for abroad intercourse staff.
Banks “bragged” to colleagues whereas in his earlier administration function at Border Patrol about paying for intercourse with prostitutes whereas touring in Colombia and Thailand over the course of a decade.
Colombia has lengthy been perceived to be underneath the management of drug cartels — the type of factor that implies quite a lot of intercourse work isn’t essentially consensual. On prime of that, it’s hardly the type of place somebody in a management place within the Border Patrol needs to be visiting for non-work-related causes. That alone creates an “look of impropriety” that individuals smarter than Chief Banks would do properly to keep away from.
Thailand also has a reputation relating to intercourse work… and it’s the type that ought to encourage folks in authorities positions to steer far away from it, even throughout their off-duty hours.
So, when a man begins bragging about paying for intercourse in Colombia and Thailand, sure assumptions are made. And even when these assumptions are simply assumptions, it’s not possible to keep away from the uncomfortable truth that somebody ostensibly within the enterprise of deterring intercourse trafficking is spending his money and time in locations the place it’s more likely to fund intercourse trafficking.
“He would inform those that’s why he was happening these journeys — he would go there to have interaction in actions with prostitutes,” a second particular person stated. “So I feel these tales are out in all places, and you may’t put them away or not give it consideration as a result of he was the one telling folks about these journeys.
“In our line of labor, a part of what we do is attempt to fight the trafficking of females, that’s a part of our job,” the identical particular person stated. “It’s counter to what we do or what we needs to be standing for. Should you’re partaking in these actions, you’re supporting the trafficking and exploitation of girls.”
The bragging Banks did drew the eye of Border Patrol oversight. Based on the knowledge supplied to the Washington Instances, Banks had truly been investigated greater than as soon as for his intercourse tourism.
However the second investigation into Banks and his intercourse tourism notably got here to halt as soon as Donald Trump returned to workplace and appointed certainly one of his MAGA loyalists to move the DHS:
[T]he investigation ended abruptly whereas Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in workplace, resulting in extra questions.
And whereas there are all the time going to be individuals who will say that is nothing greater than a handful of nameless assertions, Banks’ actions speak louder than these unattributed words:
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks abruptly resigned Thursday, telling Fox News, “It’s simply time.”
Banks reportedly advised Fox Information that he “acquired the ship again heading in the right direction” throughout his tenure.
Hmm. These don’t appear to be the actions of somebody who believes they’ve been wrongly accused by their subordinates. These are the actions of somebody who needs to be gone earlier than extra info involves gentle. In any case, the final time Banks resigned was as a result of his disagreed with President Biden’s border insurance policies. Trump’s return to workplace resulted in Banks being appointed to his former place — one that he’s now abandoning and it can not presumably be for a similar causes he exited workplace the first time.
Regardless of the cloud hanging over his head, the Trump administration has lionized his truncated second act, making it seem as if it might be greater than prepared to erect a statue of Banks being blown by underage Thai intercourse staff to honor his second coming as national Border Patrol chief:
“We thank U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks for his many years of service to this nation and congratulate him on his second retirement after returning to serve throughout some of the difficult intervals for border safety,” stated U.S. Customs & Border Safety Commissioner Rodney Scott in an announcement.
Think about being applauded for quitting twice. That’s the Trump meritocracy in motion. Banks deserted the job as soon as as a result of it conflicted together with his bigoted “ideas.” He’s leaving for a second time as a result of he doesn’t truly seem to have something that might be thought of “ideas.” The CBP assertion needs Banks and his household properly, however I can solely think about there are 1,000,000 locations Banks would reasonably be than again at residence together with his household. Assuming his visa continues to be legitimate, he’ll in all probability search “consolation” abroad as quickly as doable.
Filed Beneath: border patrol, dhs, kristi noem, mike banks, trump administration
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