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Nightmare at National Airport -- an update
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by Bill Adler | June 15, 2007 at 02:01 pm
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View the video of the passenger in the exit lane of the checkpoint
sourced by meyers
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When I wrote about Monica Emmerson's story (click here to read the original story) and how she said she was harassed at Washington, DC's National Airport I didn't anticipate how much attention this story would receive. But perhaps I should have anticipated that reaction -- airport security touches a nerve in all airline passengers. And airport security is so very important for everyone's security.
In this update, I want to present additional information, and talk about the role of citizen journalists in reporting a story like this. When I wrote this article, I just planned to get Monica's story out there. But now I'm drawn into it in ways I didn't expect.
I received a call just a short while ago from the Washington Post asking if I had seen the TSA video of the incident. The reporter told me that TSA had taken the unusual step of posting the video on their website to rebut Monica Emmerson's story, to dispel it as a myth, click here to see the video on the TSA site. TSA has also posted an incident report on their website, which contains a different narrative from what Monica Emmerson told me. In the report, TSA says:
On June 11, 2007 at approx. 13:45 TSO responded to a CIC check on lane four at center pier checkpoint. A female passenger traveling with a child in a stroller had entered the checkpoint with a 16 ounce bottle of Deer Park water and a plastic children’s drink cup with approx. 6 to 8 ounces of fluid inside. TSO asked the female if the children’s cup had formula or juice in it and she stated no. TSO gave the female her options of placing the 16 oz. Deer Park water in her check baggage or have TSA dispose of the bottle and he informed the passenger that the child’s container was too big and would have to be poured out. TSO stated the female passenger became upset and stated she was an officer and flasher her Secret Service badge and credentials and said that she should be exempt from all this and this was a stupid policy and this whole thing was XXXX.
I've watched the video, and you might want to, too. There's more in the TSA incident report, as well. (If the link is no longer there, look for a link to "Mythbusters" on TSA's site.) While the video does raise some questions about Monica's story, it doesn't seem to explain everything in her narrative. Is the video itself the full story?
So what did happen? What are the full facts? And if some details in Monica Emmerson's accounting --or the TSA's report-- are incorrect, does that mean that the way Monica Emmerson described the incident is incorrect? Monica Emmerson was upset, angry, worried about her son (who can be seen in the video running away from her), and could have gotten some of the details wrong, while the truth of her story remains intact. Few people can recall all the details of what happens to them perfectly during an this kind of incident.
I wish I had all the answers to these questions. I'm glad that TSA has posted their videos and incident report. And I'm looking forward to seeing the final conclusion to this story.
What's missing from the TSA's video and incident report? What's missing from Monica Emmerson's narrative? What other facts, details and information do we still need? The videos that TSA posted don't show the entire time-line; they're only selected portions of the incident. And they don't include sound.
Which brings me to a question: What is the role of citizen journalism with a story like this? Can citizen journalists report an entire story with the complete truth? The answer is, in part, that stories like this that citizen journalists report sometimes are the beginning -- the first chapter. And the interest --and scrutiny-- that they generate helps produce a fuller picture. Citizen journalists don't always have the resources to uncover the entire truth, but if the full truth comes out that's what's important.
Click HERE to read an analysis of the TSA video.
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at 14:05 on June 15th, 2007
Great follow-up-- great to see that you're dedicated to getting the whole story out.
at 10:07 on June 16th, 2007
Now Washington has it's own Paris Hilton. Exactly what is it that makes this woman think she is above the law? Her invalid credentials, which she feloniously proferred? Her motherhood? We all think airport security is stupid. That doesn't mean we can ignore it.
The video is clear. She twisted open the top and spilled the water. (Sippy cups DO NOT accidentally spill. That's what makes them sippy cups.) According to the video timer, the incident took 10 minutes, not 40. She herself created her own 10-minute "detention" by arguing and searching for her invalid credentials for the entire time. If she had gone out of security and dumped the water in the rest room like a normal person and then gone back through security, she would have saved 10 minutes and probably would have made her flight. As it is, she only thing she made was the point that she is at least a spoiled, self-important scofflaw.
She need anger management classes and a visit from the Secret Service to confiscate her credentials, not publicity.
at 01:05 on June 17th, 2007
Yeah! I have a lot of faith in officials flashing credentials. Like the guy who flashed his "Department of Homeland Security" badge, when he gave me a bogus traveler's check, I had to pay $50 for later on. Yes, lot of faith here, for unsolicited flashing of badges...
at 22:40 on July 5th, 2007
Hey blufx1963 I doubt that you were scammed by a DHS official. Most likely he was an impersonator. If you would like I have contacts within the Department of Homeland Security that can investigate your claim. Send me your email and I'll contact you and well get together to findout who this jerk was.
at 10:05 on June 17th, 2007
She did not say the sippy cup spilled, she said she opened it to drink it and some liquid spilled, which as a mother of a 2 year old I can tell you that sippy cups can and almost always do spill a little liquid when you take the top off, especially if your are in a hurry and not being careful. I also think that the incident took more than 10 min., they just only showed that amount of time. If that was the end of it, you would have seen her walking away.
As far as their account that it was 6-8 oz. of water, I find that very hard to believe. If it was that much water, why did it take them 6 minutes to block off the spill. Two security persons where there and not one of them tried to stop people from walking in the water, they only tried to block off the spill after she tried to wipe it up. Puddles of water are more dangerous than water that has been partially wiped up. However if it was 6-8 oz of water in the cup, it would explain her side of the story that when she opened it, 3-4 oz spilled. Since those cups only hold about 8-10 oz, you very well could spill some if you open it in a hurry.
at 14:29 on June 17th, 2007
I am also a mother and I understand about the water spilling from the top when you take it off....however did you watch the video?? She didn't take a sip, she deliberatly spilled the water out- 3oz or 8oz doesn't matter- and shook the cup to make sure she got it all out!
The incident may have taken longer, as you stated she didn't walk off...but it was due to her not the officers. She spilled the water, she stopped, she put her kid out of the stroller, she searched her bags....it was all on her.
at 01:30 on June 17th, 2007
excellent follow up.....I had watched the video footage first and read your original article second and they painted quite the contrast. Ms. Emmerson's dangerous and public comments that stated her occupation and her belief that she should be exempt from the security screening . If we let our guard down on one hot head who thinks she is too good to go the screening process, we will be reliving 9-11 all over again. Ms. Emmerson way to go on attempting to compromise our security; you are indeed the weakest link.
at 22:32 on July 3rd, 2007
What completely misguided and moronic thinking. Didn't it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, a trained and determined terrorist might be as polite, compliant and rule-abiding as possible in order to maximise his/her chances of boarding a plane? It's NEVER the ones who complain and make a fuss at the security checkpoints who are the potential terrorists, it's the ones who say "yes, sir", "no, sir", and "thank you, sir" who you need to look out for. Contrary to your belief, it's people like you who apparently believe all terrorists are so stupid as to do something like that that creates a potential security hole. Talk about "weak links"!
at 08:04 on June 19th, 2007
"She did not say the sippy cup spilled, she said she opened it to drink it and some liquid spilled, which as a mother of a 2 year old I can tell you that sippy cups can and almost always do spill a little liquid when you take the top off, especially if your are in a hurry and not being careful."
Obviousely you did NOT watch the video!
The water didn't spill because she took the lid off, it spilled because she took the lid off; turned the cup upside down, spilled the water out and shook the cup to make sure she got as much on the floor as possible.
Her butt should have been put in cuffs after that.
at 14:18 on June 15th, 2007
Yeah, excellent job following up with this. Thanks for the screen caps, Jordan--any way we could get the whole video up here?
Questions to be asked: in the TSA video, are there timestamps? If not, has the video been cropped or visibly edited to remove timestamps? Are there skips in the video? If so, how much time seems to elapse over the skip? That may answer whether or not, and possibly why her whole story isn't accounted for by the TSA report.
at 16:03 on June 15th, 2007
Ya, maybe the CIA is involved as well, this chick thought she was at Burger King, and when she did not get it her way and she realized she screwed up she went and tried to seek sympathy.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Wake up, something’s are as they are, not everything is a conspiracy, DA!
at 16:03 on June 15th, 2007
Ya, maybe the CIA is involved as well, this chick thought she was at Burger King, and when she did not get it her way and she realized she screwed up she went and tried to seek sympathy.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Wake up, something’s are as they are, not everything is a conspiracy, DA!
at 16:04 on June 15th, 2007
Ya, maybe the CIA is involved as well, this chick thought she was at Burger King, and when she did not get it her way and she realized she screwed up she went and tried to seek sympathy.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Wake up, something’s are as they are, not everything is a conspiracy, DA!
at 14:43 on June 16th, 2007
Here's a link to the TSA video... it's the second video that has the juice, so to speak! Wow, has this story touched a nerve.
at 14:53 on June 15th, 2007
Bill Adler, thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.
at 15:55 on June 15th, 2007
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />Can you spell censorship or maybe even hypocrite or how about fraud! Mr. Adler you truly are a coward. What happened to the other side of the story, let us just say you believe in lopsided journalism and leave it at that.
at 17:36 on June 15th, 2007
WATCH THE VIDEO
at 04:15 on June 16th, 2007
@dale6of9,
wget http://www.tsa.gov/assets/wmv/dca_incident2.wmv
Have you watched the film? Forward to about 1 minute to see the cup dump. Arguing with someone paid to stand in a hall and watch for danger is silly at best.
at 08:33 on June 16th, 2007
American Hero.
at 08:33 on June 16th, 2007
reposted below
at 16:28 on June 15th, 2007
We've all had our run-ins with overzealous TSA employees and as a frequent traveler, I've had my share. However I question the actions of the traveler and the newsworthiness of her story.
How hard would it have been to empty the cup and purchase another bottle of water beyond the checkpoint for her long flight? Surely she would have done so anyway to make sure her son's cup would have been filled the entire trip -- there was no way the amount that was in the cup initially would have lasted. It appears she put up a fight for no reason.
That brings me to the neworthiness angle -- I see none, other than the fact that she wants sympathy for being a former SS agent and for being a young mother. Well, there are a LOT more people with more interesting lives that could be documented on a great site like this. She is not special and her story does not withstand scrutiny, even without the TSA video.
As citizen journalists, bloggers, etc, we all need to learn the difference between news and non-news. I don't think the initial story qualified, but I think the followup does.
at 01:12 on June 17th, 2007
No credit is due the author of this story, to begin with. He was just trying to get a story out, before all the facts were in, like the video. EWJ
at 17:35 on June 15th, 2007
Bill Adler, I like this story. It's good stuff. Because you put the link to the video. I wish you would have mentioned the video SHOWS the woman pouring the water onto the floor where people exit, than she tried to turn around and re-enter the exit only lane.
at 17:46 on June 15th, 2007
Go to the TSA site and take a look. 58 seconds into
the second video it certainly seems that she opens the cup and empties it on
the floor. I watched the video several times, replaying that moment over
a dozen times. It just doesn't seem plausible that it's an
accident. After this, she attempts to reenter through the one-way check
point. Mother or not, upset or not, she should have known far better than
to act in this manner. Her being a federal agent or employee of any kind
only elevates the standards to which she should be held, not exempt her from
the rules we all must follow. Ill
conceived and ineffective rules, perhaps. But that's not the point
here. Yes, TSA is generally inefficient, rude, and no real protection
against those who would do us harm. But people who act in this manner
(referring to Ms. Emmerson) only serve to exacerbate the problem.
at 18:43 on June 15th, 2007
This woman should thank her lucky stars!! She lies about being an agent for the Federal Government to get excused from airport screening. She should be in jail facing serious misdemeanor or possibly felony charges. It is not enough she is going to be humiliated when people see the video showing her stupidity, rudeness, and attempt at breaching the security at the airport. The video clearly shows TSA being professional and helpful ( where did the paper towels come from and who disposed of the wet ones?) If anyone of us tried to impersonate a law enforcement officer our least concerns would have been that we missed our flight. She blames TSA but it is the WMAA that detains her for creating a hazard for everyone leaving the airport through that exit.
I can't really tell from the picture but maybe she really is blonde and deserving of all the respect that comes with it.
at 18:51 on June 15th, 2007
I read on BoingBoing that she's going to appear on MSNBC tomorrow. Hey, I hope the mass-media will take notice and the resulting brouhaha will stop this TSA "War on Water". Come on, it's water, are you seriously saying a bit of water is a terror threat?
A lot of people have really turned off their brains, both the TSA screeners and the public who blindly follow their instructions.
at 18:45 on June 16th, 2007
Is it really worth declaring anarchy in airport security queues? Are you going to waste your time challenging these stupid rules or are you going to use a tad of common sense and follow them to save everyone's time, including your own?
at 08:10 on June 19th, 2007
"I read on BoingBoing that she's going to appear on MSNBC tomorrow. Hey, I hope the mass-media will take notice and the resulting brouhaha will stop this TSA "War on Water". Come on, it's water, are you seriously saying a bit of water is a terror threat?
A lot of people have really turned off their brains, both the TSA screeners and the public who blindly follow their instructions."
A bit of water is not a terror threat. A bit of water mixed with a bit of this and a bit of that is.
Anyways that's not the point, there are rules you have to follow in order to get on a plane (thank you terrorists), they are there to keep us all safe. Follow them or don't fly, it's simple really.
at 01:18 on June 17th, 2007
Well, if you are one of the unfortunate ones who go up in a puff of smoke, because somebody like her, buffallowed her way onto an airplane. I will think of your comments, and hope that you didn't feel any pain, when the device, that her, and her buddies made goes off. LOL....
at 01:18 on June 17th, 2007
People have turned on their brains, or are you that turned around in your thinking?