I'd Rather Walk

Two state Rep. from NH were on Fox this morning talking about legislation curbing TSA. One guy said pat downs and scanner were fine if there was a REASON to search otherwise were not legal. When interviewer asked about feds having the power to do this answered if TSA person punched him in the face he would have him arrested, sexually assaulting was the same. THEN HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAS A FEMALE HOUSEGUEST WHO IS A RESIDENT OF NH WHO, FOR NO REASON, WAS TAKEN INTO A BACK ROOM aT THE AIRPORT AND HAD A CAVITY SEARCH WITH FINGERS GOING INSIDE HER. He didn't say it WAS TSA that did it but that was the topic being discussed. I believe if it was customs a medical person would have had to do it. Seems she would have gotten a lawyer, gone public or something. Anyone have any info?

I'd Rather Walk

I did find this:

"At a public hearing, another one of the bill’s co-sponsors testified that he knows of a woman who suffered through a Cavity search at the Manchester, Boston Regional Airport within the last few months.

“That’s tyranny, ok? There’s no reason for them to do it. They didn’t give her a reason for doing it” said Rep. Andrew Manuse, legislation co-sponsor."

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/l...exams-a-crime/

MikeMpls

If it was customs, I believe they'd have to take the person to a medical facility to have it done by qualified personnel, and customs can only require such instrusive searches based on probable cause at an immigration facility. They can't just haul some random person off to a hospital or a back room somewhere.

Assuming it was TSA, did they change their gloves between cavity searches?

ElizabethConley

I'd Rather Walk posted the following quote: This seems logical to me. I've been thinking about the TSA's claim that they have a Federal Mandate to provide Transportation Security, and this mandate means they can violate our rights to be secure in our persons against illegal searches and seizures, plus commit sexual assaults and irradiate us, the latter of which I suspect also qualifies as assault.

I don't think so.

There are a lot of Federal Agencies, and they all operate under federal mandates, but they aren't allowed to violate citizens' constitutional rights. Why should the TSA be the exception?

I think their lawyers are trying to baffle us with BS, hoping we won't test them in court.

I think the TSA leadership is lying. (Again) They know what they're doing is illegal and immoral. They just think Americans are dumber than stumps, and will tolerate just about anything.

Caradoc

In most cases, they're right.

Just look at how many people are willing to walk through the scanners at the airport.

Then look at how many people are willing to perform the gropes on the TSAs behalf.

There's no shortage of stupid, and no shortage of thugs willing to take advantage of those who're unwilling to stick up for themselves - or aren't aware that they *can* stick up for themselves - or are unwilling to stick up for those they're supposed to be protecting (in the cases of people taking children or disabled/incapacitated adults through the porno-booth or let them be groped.)

I'd Rather Walk

The odd thing is Pistole said there should not be any touching under the skin let alone cavity search. Therefore whoever did this is already subject to arrest if she filed a complaint. I would think this woman would have raised a fuss over this but maybe she is too embarrased by what happened to go public.
The interviewer on Fox didn't ask anything about this and just went on.
He didn't say so but I had the feeling this is what brought on the legislation to go after the TSA.

Cartoon Peril

This sounds like a tall tale to me.

Even so, I would never have believed that TSA would have male TSOs groping female passenger's breasts.

Since TSA won't tell us what the real rules are (if indeed there are any), I think it possible that this could occur, if only as another UBAI (Unconnected Bad Apple Incident).

That no complaint has been filed proves nothing one way or the other, as most sexual crimes go unreported.

bzbdewd

If all of this actually happened why wasn't it all over the news? I'm thinking BS.
Not saying the TSA isn't capable of something this hideous....

Boggie Dog

I would like to think TSA would not engage in acts like this but based on the preponderance of evidence that we do have on other issues I can not rule out that this did in fact not happen.

Ari

Nope, just reasonable suspicion.

Up for debate.

I'd Rather Walk

CP: That's why I asked if anyone knew of this. What makes me believe it was seeing the interview where the NH Rep, a pretty believable source, said the woman involved was staying with him.

chollie

I don't necessarily find this story unbelievable.

We have seen too many incidents where TSO's obviously witnessed misconduct by fellow workers and said nothing.

There are accounts of folks who are not advised of their right to have a witness to backroom frisks.

This happened at a smaller airport - to me, that makes it even more believable.

It couldn't happen? It is preposterous? She should (ha ha) have immediately asked for a supervisor - and what? If she'd demanded on the spot tests, etc. and gotten them and it had proven he'd penetrated her, he would have said it was inappropriate but consensual.

Further, I'm sure folks thought it couldn't happen at a border crossing either.
Except it did.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010...-on-trial.html

I'd Rather Walk

The State Rep didn't say it was a male that did the cavity search (he also didn't say it wasn't) In looking for info on this I saw some third hand remarks in an AP story where another NH State Rep said this happened to a woman staying with another State Rep. The timeline seemed to be a couple of months ago. The feeling I get, just a wild guess is this woman may be the State Rep's girlfriend, or relative. There is probably a reason they don't want publicity. Found this link although on Fox he said woman lived with him:

"Bill sponsor Rep. Andrew Manuse, R-Derry, called the new security procedures a slippery slope. "What's next? Will they do body-cavity searches?" he asked, and noted he was told of a woman who lives with one of his constituents being strip-searched at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport."

http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...e-498b569ab8ac

chollie

(bolding mine). You mean they are not supposed to haul someone off to a back room. And procedures are supposed to be followed and there are supposed to be safeguards against this sort of thing happening.

Tell it to four women who experienced something similar, just not at the hands of TSA.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010...-on-trial.html

Slide101

The guy is only going to get 2 1/2 to 3 years in prison but hopefully will get many more years on the sex offender registry. Here's a picture of the guy and article about what he did: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Bor...338/story.html