Two Transportation and Safety Administration agents at the Denver International Airport were fired after it was learned that a male TSA agent pulled off an elaborate scam to allow him to grope "attractive" male passengers.
Denver's CBS4 reports that when a male passenger who the male TSA agent found appealing approached the screening area, the male TSA agent would signal to a female TSA agent operating the X-ray scanner machine to falsely enter into the machine that it was a female passenger.
The scanner thus would malfunction, noting an "anomaly" in the groin area, and requiring a physical search, which gave the male TSA agent the opportunity to
physically grope passengers during the search process.
And it happened at least 10 times.
CBS4 notes that law enforcement received a tip from an anonymous TSA source on Nov. 18.
However, it was not until three months later, on Feb. 9, that TSA security supervisor Chris Higgins staked out the screening area. A police report states that Higgins "observed (the female TSA agent) press the screening button for a female. The scanner alerted to an anomaly, and Higgins observed (the male TSA screener) conduct a pat-down of the passenger's front groin and buttocks area with the palm of his hands, which is contradictory to TSA searching policy." Confronted, the female TSA officer admitted she had cooperated with the illicit groper.
In a statement to CBS4, the TSA said: "These alleged acts are egregious and intolerable. TSA has removed the two officers from the agency. All allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated by the agency. And when substantiated, employees are held accountable."
Prosecutors declined to press charges since the victims could not be identified and it was felt that there was insufficient evidence.
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The TSA also has come under fire from the American Civil Liberties Union charging that African-American women were being targeted for hair searches, after a complaint from California resident Malaika Singleton that she was singled out for a search because of her hair,
The Hill reports.
ACLU attorney Novella Coleman said in a statement: "The humiliating experience of countless black women who are routinely targeted for hair pat-downs because their hair is 'different' is not only wrong, but also a great misuse of TSA agents' time and resources," The Hill reported.
The TSA noted they had reached "an informal agreement with the ACLU to enhance officer training" on the pat-downs, The Hill noted.
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