Fasten your seatbelts, stow your tray tables and put your seats in an upright position because have we got a travel/national security story for you that is sure to cause some turbulence. Those with starring roles in this saga are: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH); her husband, William Shaheen, who is described by CBS News as "a Lebanese-American attorney active in the Arab-American community;" and, Mr. Shaheen's unnamed traveling companion who was being watched by the U.S. government for possible ties to terrorism.
And it turns out that this is a very curious story, indeed, as not only did Mr. Shaheen also land himself on a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) watch list for cavorting with questionable and possibly dangerous characters, but somehow managed to get off that list and find himself in the enviable position of not having to comply with certain TSA screening procedures. Go figure.
It all has to do with the TSA program known as "Quiet Skies," which began back in 2010 as a way for the federal government to collect information on travelers who may pose an elevated risk to national security. Air marshals are tasked with observing those on the list and reporting on their behavior:
The air marshals observe the targets and keep notes, the Globe reports — documenting whether they change clothes or shave while traveling, abruptly change direction while moving through the airport, sweat, tremble or blink rapidly during the flight, use their phones, talk to other travelers or use the bathroom, among many other behaviors.
You may remember that Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's current Director of National Intelligence, found herself placed on the list last summer shortly after criticizing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for weaponizing the federal government against their political opponents. Thus, proving her point.
MORE: Tulsi Gabbard Sounds Off on Being Put on TSA 'Quiet Skies' List: 'The Ultimate Sense of Betrayal'
Gabbard being placed on the Quiet Skies list was an act of political pettiness by the Biden administration, but there is a very good reason for William Shaheen's presence on it: he was known to travel on at least one occasion with a man who had been identified by the FBI as a "known or suspected terrorist." The senator's office declined to name the man, but described him as "an Arab-American attorney."
After her husband was subjected to enhanced security screenings while traveling out of Boston, Sen. Shaheen placed a friendly call to David Pekoske, who was TSA administrator at the time, but has since been fired by Trump. Here's how things work when you have political clout: on October 18, 2023, an air marshal was deployed to monitor William Shaheen, and by October 20, 2023, Mr. Shaheen magically found himself on the "secure flight exclusion list," a list for VIPs that exempts them from TSA vetting and surveillance programs, including random security screenings.
RELATED: Should We Abolish the Transportation Security Agency?
The senator's office, of course, is playing dumb and saying she had no idea that her husband was ever on a TSA watch list or that he subsequently received special VIP treatment when traveling. Gratifyingly, it appears that the Trump administration has taken steps to ensure Mr. Shaheen is once more returned to the status of everyday, perk-less traveler.
Of note: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Editor's Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject its globalist agenda.
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