President Biden’s top pick to lead the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, has deleted his Twitter account following repeated department-related controversies.
Magnus moved one step closer to leading the federal agency after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed a cloture Thursday to end debate on the candidate and push the upper chamber for a vote on his nomination.
The Arizona police chief faced tough questioning from Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee in October.
Despite his acknowledgment that the U.S. immigration system is “one of the most serious problems we face right now in our nation,” he raised eyebrows among some GOP senators when he refused to classify the issue as a “crisis.”
But Magnus faced new pressure this week after one of his officers used deadly force when dealing with an alleged armed shoplifter. Officer Ryan Remington was fired earlier this week after he fatally shot a 61-year-old man in a mobility scooter who was accused of stealing a toolbox from a Tucson Walmart.
Richard Lee Richards was reportedly fired upon nine times after he allegedly refused to hand over a receipt showing proof of purchase and then wielded a knife while heading toward another store. Video surveillance showed Richards falling to the ground after being shot from behind. He later died.
