Former union chief calls indictment 'wild goose chase'

SAN DIEGO — The former, longtime national leader of the union representing Border Patrol agents on Friday called a federal indictment alleging that he siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds “a wild goose chase.”

Terence J. Bonner said the charges were a political vendetta for his long record of criticizing the federal government's record on border security, dating back to the early days of his tenure as president of the National Border Patrol Council from 1989 until his retirement last year.

A grand jury in San Diego accused Bonner of submitting expense vouchers for meals, car rentals, luggage, books and other union-related activities when traveling for personal reasons.

Bonner, 59, sought reimbursement for visits to his mistress in Chicago, his family, hockey games and other sporting events unrelated to the union, according to Thursday's indictment. He allegedly sought wages for time when he was downloading pornography at home.

Bonner maintains the government owes him at least $100,000 for expenses that the Border Patrol refused to pay.

“(The federal government) will continue lying to the American people about the security of our borders, an honest man's reputation will be destroyed, and millions of tax dollars will be wasted in an ineffectual wild goose chase,” he said.