Not commenting on any particular incident, but I would think that if a TSA officer is not conducting a specific search for evidence of crime, just for materials not permitted on an aircraft, it would be his duty as a citizen to turn any such information in to the appropriate authorities (i.e. airport police).

Just as I would expect a waiter at a restaurant to call the police if he took a man's coat and some illegal materials fell out.

The argument would be, I suppose, was the TSA officer conducting a search outside the parameters of his job?

SR