Nightmare at National Airport -- an update

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.

<?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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

WATCH THE VIDEO

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.

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.

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.

as previous SS person, she should have known EXACTLY what to do to minimise the situation.

Anyone checked her creds? 

Sound's like a bit of a nutter to me 

"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."

Bill, the issue I have with this post and with so-called citizen journalism is neatly summed up in your final paragraph. The fact is, you are not a journalist, citizen or otherwise. You are an advocate and a blogger. A journalist would have made at least a pretense of fact-checking, and would have mentioned that the entire article came from one source (the one source with the most invested in getting her side of the story out).

Real journalists are under no illusions that they always have all the facts, but they will try to make it clearer than you have how many of the facts they are missing.

I know I may sound disparaging, but I actually don't intend to be. My hope is that you will either embrace your current role and not have illusions or work to grow into a more journalistic perspective.

I did watch the video. I read the report. I fail to see anything conclusive.

The only source for the woman claiming she should be exempt from security is the TSA report. Why should we believe that unquestioningly? As far as the question of whether she intentionally spilled the water, I find it hard to believe that she did. As a dad, I'm not beyond doing stupid things like that even when my kids are around. But my kids' mother? No way would she do that, and I doubt any mother would. But even if you find the idea plausible, there's nothing in the video to suggest she did it on purpose. She's got her back to the camera when it happens, and her body jerks just as mine would if I fumbled a cup and tried to catch it before accidently spilling the contents.

Then there's the question of why she was made to clean up the spill. What's the point? The TSA imposing immediate justice? Does the airport require each and every person who accidently makes a mess clean up their mess? No. They have staff to handle that. I could see if the TSA felt there was a security risk and wanted to make sure only the passenger had contact with the liquid, but you can clearly see an agent later taking the soiled paper towels from the passenger. Obviously they weren't concerned the liquid was actually hazardous. Which begs the question as to why it was a problem to be let pass in the first place.

And why was the cup of water prohibited anyway? The TSA rules allow all food, drink, and medication for children to go through the checkpoint. Had it been a cup of formula, it would've been allowed for sure. How is it that water is exempted from this rule?

I will also point out that the TSA report makes no attempt to assess the passenger's emotional state. I would be willing to guess that at no point did any of the TSA agents involved in the incident actually consider the passenger's emotional state. The fact is, the TSA has a fundamental responsibility to recognize the effect that the authority granted them has on passengers, to wield that authority carefully, and to do their best to defuse a potentially stressful situation when it becomes apparent that a passenger is not handling the situation well. Whatever else might be inferred from the video, it's clear that the TSA did not do this; to the contrary, by including more and more "official" people in the incident, all they did was increase whatever stress level must have existed.

Finally, I was amused by the statement on this article: "airport security is so very important for everyone's security"

Anyone who thinks that airport security is actually doing much to ensure everyone's security is fooling themselves. Time and time again, audits show that security screening does a pitiful job of keeping hazardous things or people off of airplanes. At the same time, security screening has an ENORMOUS rate of false positives, in which otherwise safe, legitimate passengers are targeted. And that's not to mention stupid rules that prohibit things that have never been shown to be dangerous, such as liquids or shoe bombs.

The DHS and the TSA are just a big make-work program for government officials' friends. A huge amount of OUR money and OUR time is being wasted by people who don't really understand security, and who have no real vested interest in addressing security while not incurring a huge economic penalty to our nation.

I would guess that the facts in this case will never be known for sure. Unless someone was recording the conversations that took place, it's "he said, she said". Nothing in the posted video in any way provides incontrovertible supporting evidence for _either_ story. But having had my own experiences with various aspects of airport security, I sure find the passenger's story a lot more plausible than the TSAs.

Lets get real here. The woman is late for her plane. She tries to bring a prohibited substance through the checkpoint becausse she is unprepared for her flight. She flashes creds she has no business even carrying and then creates a hazard for every person walking through the area. Law Enforcement steps in because she is out of control and creating way too much trouble so since she can't possible be at fault for anything she blows the proverbial molehill into a mountain so someone will pity her. Her 45 mins of detainment were more like 10 to 15, if she were even close to the recommended time to arrive and get to her gate she would have been able to do so by calmly complying just like most everybody else. But she is not to blame for any of her actions so someone else must be and why not blow the entire story out of porportion and through in a few lies to boot. And now lets get a yellow journalist to validate it all and get a national audience. Lets watch MSNBC tomorrow and see how she apologizes and hangs Adler out to dry.

Some people will do anything to get their 15 mins of fame; even show themselves to be complete morons.

Take alittle trip to the airport and spend at least 1 hour watching people go into the checkpoint.  Mothers do the darnest things.  I've seen a mother through suntan lotion at a TSO.  Let me remind you federal employee = federal crime!  And watch the video again.  You are clearly trying to pretend the woman didn't do anything.  You see her opening the sippy cup, than SHAKING the cup to make sure it is empty.  I only saw 2 police officers come to her.  I will admit the police officer was wrong in grabbing the woman's arm.  BUT the police officer is NOT TSA.  Also I work hard to please the passengers that travel through my ariport.  Even when they start yelling and threatening me.  I've been in the military now for over 4 years, was a 2 year old teacher with my own class before starting for TSA, and worked in offices as a file clerk & receptionists.  Majority of TSO's are past military or still drill as a reservist with continous training at the airport.  And by the way shoe bombs have been found by TSO's also there HAS BEEN a pllane crash from liquids.  The guy filled an eye salution container with liquid nitrogen and made a bomb with his watch and wires on the flight.  He set it to explode on the next flight.  IT DID!  It was his practice run before putting them on numberous flights, luckly he was caught.  I know ALOT more stories but am not allowed to say them for security reasons.  Look up some airplane crashes for yourself.  I am disgusted that you are blindsided by your own self-centered reasoning.  You think EVERYONE is good but TSA ad DHS.  You think because solely she's a mother she would NEVER do anything wrong or lie to cover what she did.  She didn't think TSA would release the video.  Look at home many mothers had killed their own children, so spilling water on a floor to state a point is nothing.  Stop attacking people who do their job.  Stop assuming that all TSO's are either young children making minium wage or Old people who couldn't get another job.  TSO's to start make double minium wage, are at least 18, have work experience and pass numberous testing.  Why not try and become a TSO yourself?  See if you can make the grade.  I know people who failed the first test they were given.  And you aren't even thought of for an interview until you pass that test and complete your background test while not having more than $5,000 in collects.  :)

Did I watch the same video? She is clearly dumping the water and shaking the cup to get the last drops out. Even without sound you can clearly see her digging her ID out for the MWAA officer ( a second instance of Impersonating and Officer). You can definately see in her body language her out of control behavior.

It is not the officers choice what rules passengers follow. If anyone disagrees with rules follow the proper procedures to get them changed. If not enough people want the rules changed and are willing to work toward the goal then the rules should stand. In the meantime follow the rules/laws. It is our responsibility as citizens. And TSA did not force her to clean up the mess. They were willing to let her go when the MWAA officer required it. TSA got the paper towels for her and assisted in the disposal.

Lets at least put blame where blame belongs.

@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.

Oh, wow, I'm no fan of the TSA having been subjected to many stupid humiliations (one screener threatened to beat me up at IAD!), but this woman CLEARLY dumped water out intentionally. On to a marble floor no less, in a high traffic area. If you can't see that in the video, you are in denial, just like the Bush Administration is, who created this mess in the first place. She should have been arrested.

My grandmother had a lasting injury from slipping on a wet floor a long time back, so I may be hypersensitive to this stuff, but water on a floor can do real damage to people who are more sensitive to falls, which includes a lot of elderly people.  Apparently this woman didn't give a darn about other people's safety when she did her emotional thing with the water.

The video on the TSA site (and now youtube) conveys a lot.  Regardless of whether you believe she dumped water on the floor, there WAS something there that she cleaned up with paper towels, so somebody put water on the floor.   

Most importantly: If I'm not mistaken, you can't bring more than a certain amount of liquids into the plane, and it has to be in a bag. Sippy cup or not, what part of water does she not consider liquid?  And... they have water on board anyway so whats the prob???? Good for TSA for making her clean it up.  

For those who see this as aggression by TSA,  I would ask you to temporarily step away from your thoughts for just a moment and ask: were the employees doing what they were supposed to do as part of their job, and was she doing what she was supposed to do as part of the existing and well-known-by-now rules of being a passenger in the post-911, shoe x-raying, and onboard-liquid-restriction travel industry???

I find this woman completely out of line and borderline ridiculous.  She is quoted as saying in the incident report, "Don't you know who I am?"  Well Ms. Emmerson, NO - we don't know who you are.  Even if you do work for the Secret Service why would that entitle you to any preferential treatment.  You can disagree with policy but I must say your two-year old displays better manners in the security footage than you do.  C'mon.  Dumping water onto a slippery floor at the airport and having a temper tantrum because you dislike a policy that millions of other people who fly every day have to follow is childish.  Shame on you for claiming you have been "mistreated".  Don't act like a spoiled brat and claim you deserve preferential treatment because of who you are..... there are surely people who are in fact well-known public figures who can follow the rules. 

American Hero.

reposted below

Monica Emmerson is an American Hero. Heroically, she came forth with her story, and then the government came out with a very doctored video tape. You can see all the cuts and breaks in the video, that clearly show that Ms. Emmerson did nothing wrong. You can clearly see that this video was taped over the Roswell, New Mexico Alien Autopsy video tape. The tape was very poorly done.

The water slipped out of the sippy cup. It practically walked out of the cup molecule by molecule and hit the floor in protest. Then she offered to clean up this small mess of water. She did not have to make such an offer. She did it out of the kindness of her heart. I saw her protest to the officers begging for paper towels to clean up this mess which was not her fault at all. She went searching for napkins I am sure in her purse, and then pulled something out, but then she saw it would not do the trick. It wasn't the quicker-picker-upper. No, it was probably one of the ubiquitous government issued laminated IDs that she was forced to carry because of her work. Can you imagine that? Her job requires her to be tagged like cattle. So she shows it to the people questioning her. I am sure she was thinking "look at me, I feel like a beast of burden, with all the stuff I carry, and on top of it, I am tagged like a beast bound for the farm. Do you have no sympathy for me?"

The cup literally - you can see it for yourself - fell out of her purse while she was cradling her child. I think her going out of her way to clean this up since there were no illegal immigrants around to clean up after her shows how heroic she really is. She cares about other Americans. She puts other people first. Did you see the elderly looking people that walked by on the water a few minutes before Ms. Emmerson heroically decided to wipe it up, since she then realized what a hazard water could be on a marble floor. I didn't see anyone from the government or any illegals jumping to help save other American lives like Ms. Emmerson did.

Then watching the TSA officer carelessly strike her on the arm, only shows she put up with brute force from the government. This poor woman, put liquid nourishment above the TSA. This is what you get when you have Democratically controlled TSA. Watch out if Barak Obama comes to power - all sippy cups will be outlawed.

I hope that the President personally apologizes to her for her being mistreated. Yes Monica, as you asked "do you know who I am?" Yes, I know - you are an AMERICAN HERO for standing up for your rights to go back into the terminal through the exit and thus standing up for all the rights of all Americans. I read that First Lady Laura Bush already invited Ms. Emmerson to sit with her in the House Gallery during the next State of the Union Address. AMERICAN HERO: Monica Emmerson.

Having been a law enforcement officer, and having worked in security management for many years I can tell you that- just like they say Doctors make the worst patients- I've observed a lot of cops (or former secret service agents) make the most uppity people when they feel like they're been subjected to the rules the rest of us have to live by. Watching Ms. Emmerson's body language in the video, I think her being high strung had a lot to do with the escalation of the conflict- and you do see her dump the water right on the slick tile floor (creating a safety hazard).

While I agree that a lot of the TSA's rules are just plain ineffective and cumbersome, and while I'm sure traveling with a 19 month year old has to be high stress, flashing your badge and getting all "do you know who I am?" is pretty abusive. As a former law enforcement officer she should be far more sensitive to the fact that when someone starts making a scene and insisiting that the rules don't apply to them- if security or the airport authority backs down then they've just opened the door to everybody saying they don't have to get with the program. I wonder how Ms. Emmerson would have handled the situation if, when she was with USSS,  a person in the crowd decided to come up and manhandle the president and when she went to intervene that person flashed a badge, threw a hissy fit and said "don't you know who I am?"

For my money, Monica, I would say "yes I know who you are: a high strung Type-A personaility who needs to get over herself."

Just my $.02

Maybe you guys who say you clearly see her dumping the water out could tell me exactly what timecode within the video this is seen. I watched the video several times and saw no such thing.

Frankly, I think it takes a real a$$hole to accuse someone of pretending to not see something, so I guess I already have an idea of what kind of person at least one of you is who have posted the "rebuttal". But you ought to at least put up or shut up.

Yes, she seemed pretty out of control. I guess you've never been in a stressful situation in which adrenaline swamps your body with uncontrollable emotions. Count yourself lucky.

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.