Witnesses: Secret Service agent didn't act angry
Two people who claim to have witnessed events surrounding the
ejection of an Arab-American Secret Service agent from a jetliner told CNN they never saw the
agent act in an angry manner or become confrontational during the incident.
Walied Shater, a member of President Bush's protective detail, was removed from the Texas-bound
American Airlines flight after the pilot questioned his law enforcement credentials raised concerns
about the paperwork needed for Shater to bring a weapon onto the Christmas Day flight.
Shater's lawyers traded accusations over the incident with airline officials Thursday. American
defended its pilot, saying the seven-year Secret Service veteran was confrontational, argumentative
and hostile when questioned about his credentials; His attorneys denied the accusation and said he was
singled out because of his ethnic background.
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/01/04/agent.passengers/