Topic: TSA subpoenas bloggers, demands names of sources
Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 05:31 PM
WASHINGTON – As the government reviews how an alleged terrorist was able to bring a bomb onto a U.S.-bound plane and try to blow it up on Christmas Day, the Transportation Security Administration is going after bloggers who wrote about a directive to increase security after the incident.

TSA special agents served subpoenas to travel bloggers Steve Frischling and Chris Elliott, demanding that they reveal who leaked the security directive to them. The government says the directive was not supposed to be disclosed to the public.

Frischling said he met with two TSA special agents Tuesday night at his Connecticut home for about three hours and again on Wednesday morning when he was forced to hand over his lap top computer. Frischling said the agents threatened to interfere with his contract to write a blog for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines if he didn't cooperate and provide the name of the person who leaked the memo.

"It literally showed up in my box," Frischling told The Associated Press. "I do not know who it came from." He said he provided the agents a signed statement to that effect.

In a Dec. 29 posting on his blog, Elliott said he had told the TSA agents at his house that he would call his lawyer and get back to them. Elliott said late Wednesday he could not comment until the legal issues had been resolved.

The TSA declined to say how many people were subpoenaed.

The directive was dated Dec. 25 and was issued after a 23-year-old Nigerian man was charged with attempting to bomb a Northwest Airlines flight as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam. The bomb, which allegedly was hidden in Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's underwear, malfunctioned and no one was killed. Authorities said the device included a syringe and a condom-like bag filled with powder that the FBI determined to be PETN, a common explosive.

The near-miss attack has prompted President Barack Obama to order a review of what intelligence information the government had about Abdulmutallab and why it wasn't shared with the appropriate agencies. He also ordered a review of U.S. aviation security. The government has spent billions of dollars and undergone massive reorganizations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

The TSA directive outlined new screening measures that went into effect the same day as the airliner incident. It included many procedures that would be apparent to the traveling public, such as screening at boarding gates, patting down the upper legs and torso, physically inspecting all travelers' belongings, looking carefully at syringes with powders and liquids, requiring that passengers remain in their seats one hour before landing, and disabling all onboard communications systems, including what is provided by the airline.

It also listed people who would be exempted from these screening procedures such as heads of state and their families.

This is the second time in a month that the TSA has found some of its sensitive airline security documents on the Internet.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091231/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_airliner_at
tack_tsa_subpoenas;_ylt=AulS25Uubr.sLrgvlrBg5yVH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTNsY2
p0ZTZoBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjMxL3VzX2FpcmxpbmVyX2F0dGFja190c2Ffc3VicG
9lbmFzBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNQRwb3MDNQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3
JpZXMEc2xrA3RzYXN1YnBvZW5hcw--

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 05:32 PM
I wonder if they are Republican bloggers.

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 05:37 PM

I wonder if they are Republican bloggers.


No.
Just travel bloggers.

yellowrose10's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:08 PM
so these bloggers are giving out info and helping the guy? If so, isn't that an accessory?

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:19 PM

so these bloggers are giving out info and helping the guy? If so, isn't that an accessory?


I'm sure they don't realize the information they are giving is a National security directive.

The person giving it to them does though.
I'd hate to be that person.

yellowrose10's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:23 PM
THAT person should be arrested...at least IMO

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:25 PM

THAT person should be arrested...at least IMO


Evidently they are looking for him/her.

yellowrose10's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:28 PM
sounds like an accomplice to me.

if it walks like a duck
quacks like a duck
then it's an accomplice laugh

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:33 PM
Someone inside the TSA I'd say!

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:37 PM
Someone with a security clearance.

Whoever it is will most likely be caught.
From what I read Obama is on this like white on rice.

yellowrose10's photo
Wed 12/30/09 06:40 PM

Someone with a security clearance.

Whoever it is will most likely be caught.
From what I read Obama is on this like white on rice.


nu uh

Fanta46's photo
Wed 12/30/09 07:20 PM


Someone with a security clearance.

Whoever it is will most likely be caught.
From what I read Obama is on this like white on rice.


nu uh


ugh huh!