Government

Blaze Exclusive: Rep Demands TSA Correct Account of Boy’s Strip Search

The YouTube counter says nearly two million people have watched the video of TSA agents searching a shirtless boy at the Salt Lake City Airport last Friday.  You can see the video in our original (and at the time…somewhat skeptical post) here.

There have been a good number of twists in the story since it first emerged.  And now, a U.S. congressman is revealing new information that shows just how volatile such viral accounts of TSA nightmares are for the beleaguered agency.  In an exclusive interview with The Blaze, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is charging that the public TSA account of what happened that day is “not accurate.”  Further, he has sent a letter to the agency, and the White House, asking that the record be set straight.

“They have an obligation to correct the record,” Chaffetz told me by phone Wednesday afternoon.

The new information involves the issue of whether the boy set off an alarm during the security check.  But that’s only one part of this new account of what happened in the search of the boy, who Chaffetz says is autistic.

Before we walk through the new information, you may want to listen to an interview Glenn Beck did with Luke Tait, the young man who took the original video, this morning on the radio:

After that interview aired, Rep. Chaffetz agreed to go on the record about what he has learned. I first asked Chaffetz if he knew the identity of the boy or his family. He did not. His information comes from repeated communication with the TSA agent in charge at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

Chaffetz was told that boy’s mother went through the security check first, and that she “self-identified” to agents that her son was autistic.

Luke Tait had indicated in his original YouTube post that the boy did not set off the scanner alarm when he passed through: “Before the video started the boy went through a metal detector and didn’t set it off but was selected for a pat down.”

As the video went viral, though, the TSA posted this statement:

On November 19, a family was traveling through a TSA checkpoint at the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Their son alarmed the walk through metal detector and needed to undergo secondary screening. The boy‘s father removed his son’s shirt in an effort to expedite the screening.

Rep. Chaffetz, however, says he was told three times by the TSA agent in charge at SLC that the boy did not set off the alarm.  The congressman’s letter to the TSA and the White House asks for “clarification.”

“If they don’t correct it — then they are just not telling the truth,” says Chaffetz, adding, “Mistakes get made.”

Chaffetz feels the TSA needs to step up to the plate: “It starts with being candid.”

The TSA blog version said the father removed the boy’s shirt.  Chaffetz told me that part is true. But he claims that when the boy’s “baggy” shirt caught the attention of agents, the father was given a difficult choice: the autistic child would need to have his shirt removed, or he would need to go through a thorough pat-down.  At that point, the father removed the shirt.  The TSA blog post depicts the father as instigating that move noting:

It should be mentioned that you will not be asked to and you should not remove clothing (other than shoes, coats and jackets) at a TSA checkpoint. If you’re asked to remove your clothing, you should ask for a supervisor or manager.

Yesterday we posted video maker Luke Tait’s first account of intimidation by a TSA agent who asked him to delete the video of the incident.  He also describes this to Glenn Beck in the video embedded in this post.  Tait also says that after he declined to delete the video and went the gate of his departing flight, that he saw TSA agents gathering to observe him.

Chaffetz has been told that the first part of that account is correct.  An agent had a two-minute conversation with Tait.  But the TSA is telling Chaffetz that the second part is not true.  According to the TSA, if Tait saw agents at his gate, it may have been a coincidence.  They say agents sometimes take breaks at that gate.

In any case, Chaffetz says, “We cannot tolerate that kind of harassment.”  The congressman says he’s not calling for less rigorous security measures.  “The threats are very real,” he emphasizes.  His goal: “Become more effective and less invasive.”  We’ll look at some of his ideas and concerns on The Blaze over the next few days.

Comments (93)

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  • Jezreel
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:35pm

    I just heard on Fox News that Janet Neopolatano is saying that down the road there will be checkpoints by the TSA for buses and trains! If this is true, this is becomming a Nazi state. When they closely monitor the movement of the population, this is getting rediculous you guys! Americans need everywhere to wake up some more. We got a lot of idiots in our country that have no idea of what is going on and that is the way that the government wants us to be, ignorant and dumbed down.

    Report Post »  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 11:00pm

      I think it’s already started. I heard a report (radio? 97.1 fm st Louis) that an agent was seen at a commuter train station & when he was asked what he was doing, he said he couldn’t say. When he was asked for his name & his supervisor’s name, he refused to give it out. He said it was in the phone book. He then proceeded to take a notebook & pen out of his pocket & asked the commuter for his name & phone & address which the guy refused to give out. That’s where the report ended. I don’t know if this is true or not… anyone else heard anything like this?

      Report Post »  
    • Cabledog
      Posted on December 13, 2010 at 1:28am

      The Gov. is beta testing the product; it will soon be in train & bus stations as well as sporting & concert events. They also have the Z Backscatter Van’s which will be soon rolled out into your neighborhood; they will be able to see inside your house. Get ready for the DHS campaign, “If you see something, say something”, they want us to spy on each other. They also soon will be doing RFID Chip Implants, which will be required for driver’s lic, shopping, to buy food, gas, and health care. Tell all your family, tell all your friends, wake up as many people as you can.

      Report Post »  
  • glenng2
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:17pm

    T- touch
    S- someone
    A-anywhere

    Report Post »  
  • ANGELSHTFMILITIA
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:15pm

    This shouldnt even happen to a little boy

    http://www.shtfmilitia.com

    Report Post » ANGELSHTFMILITIA  
  • CatB
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:11pm

    You give some people a badge or button and they think they can do whatever they want …. they better get rid of the abusive TSA agents before they give all a bad rap and no one wants to fly. They don’t need a union they need a good “cleaning out” of those people.

    Report Post »  
  • GIDDIONKANE
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:06pm

    can you say pedophile?…the tsa calls them employees….

    Report Post » GIDDIONKANE  
  • martyinhagerstown
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:59pm

    I wasn’t calling APatriotFirst a dimwit but rather the person that replied to his post. Sorry APatriotFirst.

    Report Post »  
  • Seagal45
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:54pm

    They need to be profiling and not fondling or nuking you with radiation, this is SO VERY unconstitutional.

    Report Post »  
  • Star Spangled
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:51pm

    When a government agency lies on a small , scared autistic child to cover their own ass there’s a big problem with that agency !

    Report Post » Star Spangled  
  • YHERALUNA
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:44pm

    Maybe medical professionals should be the ones verifying the airport porn. They need a female line and a male line. The same sex nurse, CNA, RN, etc would be the ONLY one to view the images. It would also give thousands of medical workers a job in this bad economy. Any ideas?

    Report Post » YHERALUNA  
  • YHERALUNA
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:44pm

    Maybe medical professionals should be the obes verifying the airport porn. They need a female line and a male line. The same sex nurse, CNA, RN, etc would be the ONLY one to view the images. It would also give thousands of medical workers a job in this bad economy. Any idears?

    Report Post » YHERALUNA  
  • 338lapua
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:33pm

    Soylent Green …is …..people!!

    Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on November 26, 2010 at 2:44pm

      That was a GREAT movie.
      and so it seems to be coming true.
      agenda 21 bill gates eugenics

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • sportlock
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:23pm

    @Miami

    Ever heard of the ant and the grasshopper? Oh, you still think hard work pays off in the end huh? With hope and change we can all just get some of yours…

    Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:20pm

    I just can’t believe that the TSA would lie to us.

    Report Post »  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:20pm

    I got an idea Congressman…P R O F I L I N G

    Report Post »  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:16pm

    Filing a false report . Isn’t that a felony?

    Report Post »  
  • cabnetdude
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:15pm

    The Dark Lord and this regime will neither account for or apologize for their commie tactics. These filthy Nazi thugs make me sick. America….your freedoms are gone with these unconstitutional searches. Like cattle, next will be the lines to the boxcars. This is evil!

    Report Post »  
  • Conserving Ink
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:14pm

    Any record made by the offending agents would be fiction. Their bosses don’t even know what really happened. We will never know the real truth.
    _______________________________________________
    New Post http://conserving-ink.blogspot.com

    Report Post » Conserving Ink  
  • Miami
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:11pm

    Wait, where are all those personal space freaks on the left that were calling for heads when they were asking for people’s shoes…? The Fascist State had gone to far…

    What do we call this…?

    Report Post » Miami  
  • sportlock
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:09pm

    Funny stuff….
    So the threats were manufactured by Bush and his cronies during his presidency, and simply cast off as fearmongering. Yet under Obama, the threat is real?

    If we could just have you pt your legs in these stirrupts sister mary clarence, we’ll have you outta here in just a sec

    Report Post »  
  • Miami
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:06pm

    Good thing I just bought another hundred pounds of rice and thincking of going back for more…NK

    Report Post » Miami  
  • Miami
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:04pm

    Can you say SS / Gestapo / Secret Police and they want to unionize, ghee I don’t see anything going wrong there….

    Report Post » Miami  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:02pm

    the sad fact is the TSA have rpeatedly lied to us.. so how can we trust them or the white house now? we can not

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
    • heavyduty
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:22pm

      But they are fixing to go UNION so that will make it all alright. You don’t think the UNIONS would do anything underhanded do you?

      Report Post »  
    • Wilma
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 8:17pm

      Adding insult to injury are the half truths and out right lies coming from government TSA officials. Where is the outrage? It reminds me of Cuba. Government officials lie and everyone knows they are lying, but the people are helpless to do anything about it.

      Report Post » Wilma  
  • APatriotFirst
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 5:57pm

    Has anyone heard anything from the newly elected in congress yet?

    Oh wait….the election is over. They don’t need to say anything anymore, do they.
    They got what they wanted.

    Report Post »  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:12pm

      None of them have taken office yet dimwit. They were elected but they don’t take office until January 3rd. Saying something now would just be grandstanding since they can‘t actually DO anything on the matter until they’re actually sworn into office.

      I‘m not saying they’re all great. Many of them may indeed turn out to have just paid lip service to conservative values because they knew it would get them elected. But I’ll reserve judgement until they are actually there, and not base it on the fact that they aren‘t blowing a bunch of hot air about something they can’t even affect yet.

      Report Post »  
    • sportlock
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:15pm

      Could be, or it could be those lawmakers are not in power yet.

      Report Post »  
    • APatriotFirst
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:36pm

      ROWGUE
      So your reason for the insult is? Even out of office, are you saying people can not say anything?

      Yeh, politicions….why would they

      Report Post »  
    • martyinhagerstown
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:55pm

      you are the dim wit. Elected but not sworn in folks have 10x the voice of ordinary citizens and most of them were supposedly Republicans so they have a voice as a party and a majority future congress. Too bad their voice can’t be heard from the backseat.

      Report Post »  
    • 1citygurlintx
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:56pm

      Could you at least let them take office before you start complaining…GEEZ

      Report Post » 1citygurlintx  
    • sportlock
      Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:40pm

      Somehow I feel some of you are gonna start blaming Bush again.. Oh, man, here we go!

      Report Post »  
  • tradexpertbuysell
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 5:57pm

    Nothing constitutional about any of this. Illegal S&S.

    Report Post »  
    • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:39pm

      And they don’t want us taping them, cops are pushing that too. Kinda makes you go hmmmmmmm.

      Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
  • dkhartman
    Posted on November 24, 2010 at 5:56pm

    “The congressman says he’s not calling for less rigorous security measures.”

    That’s our problem. We don’t have people defending our rights. BIG problem!

    Report Post »  
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