The Transportation Security Administration T.S.A. has generated lots of controversy this holiday season with scanners and pat downs, but did you know some TSA agents doing those checks could be convicted felons? Investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is On the Case.
WSVN -- We rely on TSA security officers to keep terrorists from getting on our planes, but when screening was stepped up recently to include full body X-rays or very physical pat downs there was a backlash.
In San Diego a passenger recorded his conversation with a TSA agent.
TSA Agent: "And if you'd like a private screening, we can also make that available for you also."
Passenger: "We can do that out here, but if you touch my junk I am going to have you arrested."
In Salt Lake City, a father took off his young son's shirt after the child had been singled out.
Passenger: "They harassing a kid?"
Passenger: "Yup. nice it's ridiculous."
And there's was more than aggravation for some, there was humiliation. A cancer survivor was patted down in Detroit so rough it ruptured his urine bag.
Passenger: "And I had urine dribbling into my underwear, down my leg, on my shorts."
And now there are questions about the backgrounds of those doing the screening. It turns out the TSA will hire criminals as long as their convictions happened more than 10 years ago. That means people with criminal records could be checking you the next time you fly.
Chip LaMarca: "Well the numbers I'm hearing are as much as seven percent of the people that are manning the stations could be formerly convicted felons."
Carmel Cafiero: "What do you think of that?"
Chip La Marca: "I think it's horrific."
Broward County Commissioner Chip Lamarca is...
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