(Image Source: latimes.com

 
BY BREANA JONES
ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

The news broke with a Tweet. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s communications director tweeted this Monday morning...

“Just got a call from @senrandpaul. He's currently being detained by TSA in Nashville”

Paul was on his way to DC to speak at a March for Life fundraiser when it all went down. CNN has the details ...

“He was apparently going through security, he went through a body scanner and he set it off. According to a spokeswoman, Senator Paul requested to go through the scan again instead of getting a pat down, but TSA officers refused.”

But whether Paul was actually ‘detained’ like that tweet said is a point of controversy. TSA says he wasn’t -- The Washington Post has the agency’s statement.

“Passengers who refuse to complete the screening process cannot be granted access to the secure area in order to ensure the safety of others traveling.”

But Paul told Politico the specifics don’t matter.

“‘I was told not to leave a cubicle and when I did step outside the cubicle I was sort of surrounded and put back in the cubicle. Seems a little bit like I was being detained. But when they got tired of detaining me, they evicted me. And then I was told to leave. I think I would have been arrested had I not done what I was told’ .. ”


Rand wasn’t the only member of the family upset by the incident, Fox News has a statement from presidential candidate hopeful Ron, who has harsh words for the TSA.

“The police state in this country is growing out of control. One of the ultimate embodiments of this is the TSA that gropes and grabs our children, our seniors, and our loved ones ...”

Ron went on to say that if elected president, he would eliminate the TSA. But not everyone is sympathetic. Gawker says the Pauls are crying wolf.

“We don't love the TSA security procedures, but let's please not embarrass ourselves by pretending that Paul did something brave or noble here, or that the TSA reacted in an unexpected or particularly troubling way. … if the worst way your civil rights have ever been violated is by having your body touched by a government employee while you wait to board a plane, you are pretty lucky.”

And Twitter is abuzz over whether or not the incident violated the constitution. ABC News explains.

“The U.S. Constitution actually protects federal lawmakers from detention while they’re on the way to the capital. … according to Article I, Section 6.”

Whether or not the TSA actually broke a law has yet to be determined. Rand was able to catch a later flight but missed his speech in DC.

Politics News: Rand Paul v. TSA

Rand Paul v. TSA

January 23, 2012
(2:26)
Senator Rand Paul says he was detained by the TSA Monday in Nashville. Now, he's questioning the agency's procedures.
   
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