TSA Pat Down Went Too Far, Agency Chief Says

ABC ^ | 11/22/2010 | SHARYN ALFONSI and LEE FERRAN

[markomalley]

The beleaguered head of the Transportation Security Administration said today that at least one airport passenger screening went too far when an officer reached inside a traveler's underwear, and the agency is open to rethinking its current protocols.

An ABC News employee said she was subject to a "demeaning" search at Newark Liberty International Airport Sunday morning.

"The woman who checked me reached her hands inside my underwear and felt her way around," she said. "It was basically worse than going to the gynecologist. It was embarrassing. It was demeaning. It was inappropriate."

That search was against protocols and "never" should have happened, TSA Administrator John Pistole told "Good Morning America" today.

"There should never be a situation where that happens," Pistole said. "The security officers are there to protect the traveling public. There are specific standard operating protocols which they are to follow."

Pistole, reponding to complaints from passengers, has maintained that the TSA will not change its pat down procedures. But today he said the agency is "open" to changing security procedures.

[BossLady]

INFO & ARTICLES ON TSA PERVERTS

FLYERTALK.COM -

Travel/Safety/Security Section

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security-222/

Thread dedicated to TSA Criminal Activity -

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1149208-tsa-criminal-activity-thread.html

NEWS ARTICLES -

1- Former Orlando TSA officer gets probation in sex-slave case -

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-06-15/news/os-orlando-tsa-officer-arrested-sex-t20100615_1_charles-henry-bennett-sex-slave-sex-offender-probation

2- TSA airport screener arrested for child porn also worked at Catholic school; Questions remain -

http://www.examiner.com/la-county-libertarian-in-los-angeles/tsa-airport-screener-arrested-for-child-porn-also-worked-at-catholic-school-questions-remain

3- TSA Agent Arrested at LAX (TSA using drugs at a party)

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/TSA-Security-Agent-Arrested-at-LAX-80858482.html

4- TSA Agent Accused of Harboring Fugitive

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/TSA_Agent_Accused_of_Harboring_Fugitive_091809

5- TSA officer at DIA arrested in connection with luring child online

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20080711/NEWS/999462965

6- TSA screener arrested for drug theft at Little Rock airport

http://www.fox16.com/mostpopular/story/TSA-screener-arrested-for-drug-theft-at-Little/oMbCSazQZkOUkvmyCKn03Q.cspx

7- TSA officer charged in boy’s kidnap attempt - Police in Idaho say man also possessed documents for 5 separate identities

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12302041/

8- TSA Worker Arrested On Drug, Gun Charges

http://www.wftv.com/news/19130582/detail.html

9- Memos Detail TSA Officer’s Cocaine Pranks Worker joked about finding drugs in luggage

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/stupid/memos-detail-tsa-officers-cocaine-pranks

10- TSA screener arrested for beating co-worker

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/05/latest_tsa_screener_drama_noth.html

11- TSA Agent: “I am god, I’m in charge”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f187t-OF_j0

12- TSA officer among duo arrested for stealing from fliers’ luggage at JFK

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/legacy/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68494489.blog

13- Child rape charge rocks TSA

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1238602

14- Tsa Screener Charged With Raping 14 Year Old Girl

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/tsa-screnner-charged-with-raping-14-year-old-girl-25-apx-20100310

15- TSA Agent arrested for sex crimes www.privateofficer.com

http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/tsa-agent-arrested-for-sex-crimes-wwwprivateofficercom/

16- TSA Employee Steals Over $200,000 in Electronics

http://notalemming.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/tsa_steals_200000_gadgets.jpg?w=609&h=608

17- TSA Forces Woman To Remove Nipple Rings

http://notalemming.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/tsa_nipple_rings.jpg?w=640&h=556

18- Perverts With Power, Revisited

http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2007/02/perverts-with-power-revisited.html

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I sent your link to Drudge and he has put it up.

[grame]

That word ‘commoner’ has been the subject of much discussion around my house of late. We are trying to decide what the opposite it. Proper, Royalty, .....

[UCANSEE2]

Why the need for a ‘change’ instead of disciplining the persons doing the groping?

Because that would just get into a big mess with the TSA Union rep.

[MasterGunner01]

No “humiliation” is too good for members of the Mainstream Media. They were quite content when it was just the “commoners” getting groped, poked, prodded, and scanned — except when it's their bodies being pawed over by some government thug.

I say these are the most likely among us to be “terrorists” — other than Muslims — so the TSA should accord all fourth estate members “extra” attention.

[UCANSEE2]

Not sure if this question has been brought up, but what about dogs, can’t a bomb sniffing dog do as good a job detecting explosives. What would you prefer? A human feeling your crotch or a dog sniffing your crotch. I think if a person is sitting the dog could detect explosives in the upper/lower body with minimum distance of a foot or so? Any dog experts know if this viable question is it doable?

Sure. Dogs used to be used. The Israeli's use them.

BUT, we can't do that here in the US because of CAIR. It's insults the Muslims 'religion' if we use dogs.

[goat granny]

If an employee of a corporation sexually harasses someone while at work, the company gets sued...here is an idea....if a member of a union sexually molests a customer of the airlines, lets sue the union also...we all know unions have deep pockets....just need the right lawyer. Thats after the culprit is sent to prison.

[Buckeye McFrog]

This policy is about to die the death of a thousand slices.

The TSA Chief and Big Sis are gonna be reduced to continually responding in the media to questions about individual screenings.

[Bigh4u2]

Ya know. I was actually going to add that line to my post but I clicked too fast.

Thanks for continuing the thought!

lol!

[superloser]

I fail to see how routine "high tech" strip-searches with the only alternative being an invasive molestation of one's person is justifiable by any means given the viable (and scalable) alternatives currently and readily available.

It is also Unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled that an "administrative search" is Constitutional when people consent to it at a checkpoint like the Airport Security Checkpoint or the lobby of a Federal Courthouse, but it must also be "minimally invasive".

A strip-search or full groping is NOT "minimally invasive" but unfortunately like most things, Government Goons have the "sue me" attitude. There are lawsuits pending, but they will not be addressed quickly enough to provide relief for people who are being molested, technically legally, and paying for the molestation with their own tax money, on a daily basis.

As much as I loathe the ACLU, I have to come down on their side with this and that really bothers me. But, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again.

[Cyber Liberty]

This entire story blew up and grew legs, after weeks of this stuff going on, only when a TV reporter’s screaming three-year-old daughter was taped being felt up by a pair of TSA thugs.

[MadelineZapeezda]

How friggin dirty was that glove before the passenger was assaulted and given a gynecological exam....I sue for rape!

[Sarajevo]

That search was against protocols and "never" should have happened, TSA Administrator John Pistole told "Good Morning America" today.

So Johnny-boy, first you talk tough, then you back off. What happened? Did you have your a$$ handed to you?

Control your monkeys, or "We the People" will.

[Future Snake Eater]

The official Obama response to the new TSA patdown procedures.

[IronJack]

If “commoner” equals “plebian,” then its counterpart would be “patrician.” If it means “serf” or “peasant,” I would suggest either “royalty,” “aristocrat,” or “noble.” “Elitist” might also work.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

Looks like they stuck their grimey hands down the wrong panties: a member of the media.

This guy looks like he would stick his hand down some stranger’s panties.

This twit looks like some twirp who was a total loser in high school.

[DoughtyOne]

This TSA pat-down went too far.

A few of the TSA pat-downs probably didn’t go too far.

Which of the two above comments are likely to be the most accurate statement these days?

- - - - - - -

T errorism’s
S exual
A ssault

Isn’t it sort of like TSA has now become an arm of Al Qaeda?

[SE Mom]

bookmark

[metmom]

The beleaguered head of the Transportation Security Administration said today that at least one airport passenger screening went too far when an officer reached inside a traveler's underwear, and the agency is open to rethinking its current protocols.

But not unexpected.

I wonder if the FR TSA supporting sheeple will even criticize this.

Imagine this, qwertypie, samtheman, and OldDeckHand. This is what you're defending, because it was inevitable and it WILL happen again. Count on it. There will be more reports of this kind of cr@p going on.

I wonder is she changed her gloves before or after?

Looks like the screening has evolved after all, doesn't it? Just like Pistole said it needed to.

[trisham]

This is just one of the consequences of a government out of control. I keep hearing FReepers, of all people, telling us that we are overreacting. How can that be?