Congressman Demands TSA Chief's Immediate Resignation

CNSNews ^ | May 9, 2012 | Craig Bannister

[jazusamo]

Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (R-GA) of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today sent a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole demanding his immediate resignation.

As he explains in his letter ( Rep Broun May 9, 2012 TSA Letter.pdf), the Georgia congressman had previously contacted Pistole regarding disturbing reports about the TSA in his home state:

“I last contacted you in November of 2011 in response to a news report featured on WSB-TV, Atlanta's local ABC affiliate, which detailed potentially lax security standards at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.”

Broun tells Pistole that “over-the-top behavior” by TSA agents has become a daily occurrence (emphasis added):

“Unfortunately, numerous other allegations have since surfaced across the country which indicate that a number of TSA agents lack either proper training or simple professionalism when dealing with airline passengers.”

“Even worse, recent news reports have even alleged outright corruption within TSA's ranks. It is clear that theTSA has become nothing more than a bloated, broken bureaucracy which uses its extensive power to violate traveling Americans' civil liberties while doing little to ensure their safety.”

“Since the beginning of 2012, rarely has a day gone by without at least one report of over-the-top behavior by TSA agents. Some of the more noteworthy incidents include:

• A complaint that a TSA agent in Wichita, Kansas patted down a scared four-year old girl after she hugged her grandmother at the security checkpoint;
• A video shot by a fellow passenger depicting a woman in Madison, Wisconsin sobbing as she was roughly patted down;
• A complaint that TSA workers in San Diego administered an invasive pat-down to a 95-year old, wheelchair-bound Air Force veteran and his 85-year old female companion, during which they also allegedly stole $300 in cash from his possessions;
• A complaint that a TSA agent in Kauai, Hawaii forced a nursing mother to openly
• demonstrate her breast milk pump in a 11M!W& restroom to prove that it was real;
• A report that a woman traveling through Dallas-Fort Worth was forced by TSA agents to walk through the full-body scanner three times, while they remarked on her ‘cute figure;’
• The indictment of two current and two former TSA agents in Los Angeles stemming from allegations that they took bribes to allow narcotics to pass through security checkpoints at the Los Angeles International Airport.”

Rep. Broun also notes that the TSA’s “vaunted SPOT program” for airport security has done far more harm that good – especially, since not a single terrorist has been caught by it:

“Although SPOT has resulted in hundreds of innocent Americans being forced to submit to invasive, and sometimes humiliating, screening procedures, not one terrorist has been caught as a result of this costly program.”

“Americans can no longer tolerate the flagrant violations of their civil rights which are occurring at airports nationwide in the name of ‘security.’ More importantly, the corruption and continued lack of security among TSA's own personnel puts our country at extreme risk of another terrorist attack. The time has come for serious action to be taken. As such, I request your immediate resignation from the position of TSA Administrator."

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

[paul51]

Although SPOT has resulted in hundreds hundreds of thousands of innocent Americans being forced to submit to invasive, and sometimes humiliating,

[jazusamo]

Bump!

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

[BuffaloJack]

“those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither” - Benjamin Franklin.

[DuncanWaring]

The War On Terror is over - why do we need the TSA?

[Drill Thrawl]

War On Terror is over - why do we need the TSA?

Because it is a good way for the gubment to remind the people of who is in charge. Now get back to work serf, there are taxes to be paid.

[jazusamo]

Great point. That’s what the turkey in the WH said.

[ctdonath2]

4th Amendment. ‘nuf said.

[ridesthemiles]

Add to the list above that there are new screener machines totalling $184 MILLION sitting in a warehouse in Dallas that have NEVER been sent to airports.

TSA says they over-ordered them DELIBERATELY to get a better QUANTITY discount, and have yet to decide where to put them into use!!!!! They have been warehoused for over THREE YEARS!!!!!

To get into college, one must pass the SAT tests.

To work at the TSA, one seems to have to pass a STUPID test-—all the way to the top of their food chain!!!!

[jrd]

you left out Bin laden is dead

[Springfield Reformer]

Not necessarily an act of stupidity. Possibly strategy. Some big “event” occurs which “requires” rapid deployment of many more scanners. Hey, how lucky is it that TSA just happens to have them. Oh, and BTW, that whole bit about being “free to move about the country?” Off for now. Indefinitely off.

... just an Orwellian theory I have ...

[SaraJohnson]

What a decent man! Finally, someone is joining Rand Paul in standing up to the police state perverts!

[where's_the_Outrage?]

TSA has a “trusted traveler” program, you can become one if you are a Customs and Border Patrol trusted traveler which has expedited lines through Immigration and Customs for foreign travel.

Sounds good except if you want to use it. They have a TSA trusted traveler lane at DFW Terminal C, but if you are coming from a foreign destination you come into Terminal D which does not have a TSA trusted Traveler lane.

More stupid TSA stuff.