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TSA Pats Down 6-Year-Old

Anna Drexel cried after procedure, mom says
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 13, 2011 10:10 AM CDT

A video getting quite a bit of attention today shows a TSA agent patting down a 6-year-old girl. The video was posted on YouTube yesterday, Jezebel notes, and it shows the New Orleans agent running her hand over Anna Drexel's chest, groin, and inside her waistband. When asked by the mother if they can simply re-scan her, the agent says, "No."

In the video, mom Selena claims her daughter is also being given a "drug test." Jezebel reports that a TSA rep denied that claim to the Boston Globe, saying, "We screen passengers for dangerous weapons and explosives. I realize the mother of this little girl speculates that we're going to test her for drugs, but that couldn't be further from the truth." (The Globe's story doesn't appear to include that denial.) A Good Morning America report on the incident notes that the TSA says it is "exploring additional ways to focus its resources and move beyond a one-size-fits-all system." (More TSA stories.)

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