(NaturalNews) The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued an apology in response to two elderly women who were allegedly molested by TSA airport screeners at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York just before Christmas. But the apology only addresses the fact that TSA screeners violated protocol with regards to scanning the ladies' private medical devices, and denies any further misconduct on behalf of the screeners, which the two victims say is a lie.
In December, 85-year-old Lenore Zimmerman, who uses a wheelchair, came out saying that TSA screeners forced her to take off her clothes in a private room as part of a strip search-type screening protocol. The screeners apparently took issue with Zimmerman's back brace and an internal defibrillator, which led to their order that she disrobe (
http://www.naturalnews.com/034323_National_Organization_for_Women_TSA_illegal_searches.html).
Around the same time, 88-year-old Ruth Sherman came forward and said TSA screeners essentially did the same thing to her by taking her into a private room for an "enhanced" screening. In Sherman's case, screeners allegedly told her to drop her pants and underwear in order to inspect her colostomy bag (
http://www.naturalnews.com/034415_TSA_elderly_women_strip_search.html).
In both of these incidents, the victims appear to have been personally violated by TSA agents who not only broke their own protocol by improperly handling the medical device screenings, but also by sexually molesting the women. But
TSA officials are only "sorry" for the medical device protocol violations, and insist that neither Zimmerman or Sherman was strip-searched, molested, or violated in any other way.
"They asked me to pull my sweatpants down, and now they're not telling you the truth," said an outraged Sherman to reporters after Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Betsy Markey issued a written apology about the medical device issue, but denied the other charges.
"They're lying," said Zimmerman, also extremely upset about the TSA's denial. "I don't have a problem with [screeners checking] the back brace. I have a problem with being strip searched."
Zimmerman is reportedly still moving forward with a lawsuit against the TSA for sexual assault, despite the agency's denial of her claims. Sherman has not indicated whether or not she will press charges against the TSA.
Sources for this article include:http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/tsa-apologizes-elderly-women-strip-search-kennedy-airport-article-1.1007725
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