Originally Posted by
Often1
OK. Don't. Relitigate. See what happens. Question is whether OP wants GE or not.
Relitigate implies that something was litigated before. Unless you know something that wasn't posted, the denial was just the computer seeing an old incident-- there hasn't been a human involved so far who has actually done anything other than a cursory review.
Which is more effective "I'm sorry for doing something wrong" [this is called a statement against interest or an admission-- that one violated customs laws in the past-- and should result in denial as it would be against GE criteria no matter how long ago]. Or "I didn't do anything wrong-- please check your records, this is what really happened . . . " [CBP reseraches and reconsiders].
I find it interesting that you would recommend someone make a statement against interest; I hope you aren't a criminal lawyer. "Just apologize to the prosecutor . . . "