Jesse Ventura Sues The TSA Over Body Scanners, “Unwanted Touching”

video

by Jon Bershad | 10:58 am, January 25th, 2011

» 11 comments

Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, a man who knows something about the dangers of advanced body scanning technology, sued Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration yesterday over the new airport security measures. In the lawsuit, he alleges that he’s been exposed “to humiliation and degradation through unwanted touching, gripping and rubbing of the intimate areas of his body.” Man, can you imagine the poor TSA agent who had to do those things to a furious Jesse Ventura?

Ventura isn’t just put off about the scans and the nature of the pat downs, he also feels like he is being unfairly subjected to him because he is unable to go through metal detectors. In 2008, the former wrestler had to receive a titanium hip implant which would always set off detectors. Before the new procedures were implanted, he would then be searched with a non-invasive wand rather than an agent’s hands.

Ventura’s lawsuit goes as far as to name Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole as defendants. Whether he’s successful or not, we can assume he’s getting some good content out of this for his TV series, Conspiracy Theory.

(h/t Reddit)

Check out a video report on the lawsuit from Pheonix’s KSAZ below:

Airport Security, body scanners, Janet Napolitano, Jesse Ventura, John Pistole, Pat Downs, TSA

Harry Flashman

All searches involve “unwanted touching”.

My problem with this whole thing is the fact that TSA is acting without even the lowest legal justification for a search which is reasonable suspicion. The Supreme Court said in Terry v. Ohio that when reasonable suspicion is established a pat down search can be used.

I’m not sure how just standing in line to go somewhere gives the government reasonable suspicion to grope search you.

Note: If the security agencies were private entitties and agreeing to the possibility of search in order to fly was part of the deal it would be a different issue. The TSA uses force of law, including criminal penalies for refusal, to enforce to searches.

Having had some litttle experience iin the area, It”s my opinion that the way the do it now is unlawful and unconstitutional.

Just my opinion, which could be wrong.
printbrat

I believe these ‘pat downs’ are too intrusive, and can be humiliating. Who knows what a TSA’s ulterior motive is in touching certain body parts. Anyone seen ‘To Catch a Predator’, it has individuals from all walks of life.
SueWilson

I applaud Gov. Ventura. These naked body scanners and groping are clearly unconstitutional, and are nothing but another invasion the government is taking into our private lives.

It makes me sad that the anchor and reporter in this story act so flippantly towards Mr. Ventura’s law suit . So much for unbiased reporting!
http://MsUnderestimated.com MsUnderestimated

Seriously, there’s actually someone who WANTS to touch Jesse Ventura? Wow. Well, maybe not “want” but “has to.” Perhaps they should be filing suit for “Hostile Work Environment.”
Just_MC

SueWilson said:
I applaud Gov. Ventura. These naked body scanners and groping are clearly unconstitutional, and are nothing but another invasion the government is taking into our private lives. It makes me sad that the anchor and reporter in this story act so flippantly towards Mr. Ventura’s law suit . So much for unbiased reporting!

Yes, yes, 1000-times yes!! Good post.
JJ Vachon

I also agree with Jesse. Every time I go through one of those scanners and get fondled I want to call the cops! Don’t get me wrong, I go naked at our local hot springs and I have no problem with intimate touching. But here’s a strager folding me ho has done to same to hundreds of people that day! The and works fine for me!
disgusted

We (my wife & I) have flown on many airlines, in many parts of the World – BUT – with the TS Associates “in-charge” – we’re DONE!
http://brianomalley1776.blogspot.com BrianOMalley

Notice the correspondent’s words that the same measures that others “have to” go through are somehow a violation of “his” rights–as if everyone else going through it makes it reasonable, as if demanding his rights constitutes special treatment. The insinuation is pretty terrible.

These scanners do not find explosives, if the explosive are arranged a certain way:
http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/12/16/leading-scientists-say-airport-full-body-scanners-easily-duped/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk1%7C31980

The pat downs are intrusive, and they are not a reasonable security measure that we should take for granted.
X-3

Ventura is probably furious and fearful that the TSA agent will report having found a “little package” in Ventura’s briefs.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Templeton/1642703797 Dave Templeton

The TSA has not found one gun, knife, nail clipper, scissors so far but missed the razor blades and loaded ammunition magazine. Now, don’t we all feel safer with the Keystone cops performing at airports near you? And once again we “angry Americans” have proof of how the Obama Administration continues to miss the mark and fall short of the security goal for air travelers. American have failed to see the underlying motive, this agency is “make work group” simply going through the motions so their neighbors won’t be too puzzled that they indeed are able to draw a government paycheck. They have not intelligence, they have no qualifications, they simple breathe air, take up airport space and cannot under any circumstances justify their existence. And by the way the greeters job at Wal-mart was already taken when they applied!
Demoisedrawings

I hope Ventura wins his suit against the TSA. Anyone who has a class action suit against the TSA, I say good! This country is getting ridiculous! TSA go away! If only it were that easy.