Rand Paul Asks Why TSA Is Using Terror Watch List To Spy On Americans “Based On Their Political Views”

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

GOP Senator Rand Paul has written to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) asking for answers as to why the agency appears to be using terrorist watch lists as a way of surveilling Americans according to their political opinions.

Paul addressed the letter to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, and cited recent revelations that former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard as well as a woman married to a federal air marshal whistleblower have both been placed on the ‘Quiet Skies’ program watch list and subjected to enhanced surveillance.

ICYMI: Yesterday, Ranking Member @SenRandPaul sent a letter to @TSA requesting information related to the allegations of improper surveillance of Americans, including @TulsiGabbard.

Read the letter and more below ⬇️https://t.co/F5PZzDmS7T

— HSGAC GOP (@HSGAC_GOP) August 22, 2024

Gabbard was seemingly added to the watch list after a Fox News interview during which she criticised the ‘deep state’, while the air marshal’s wife was added after attending Donald Trump’s speech on January 6th, despite not moving to the Capitol building after it.

“Taken together, these incidents seem to be part of a broader pattern in which TSA has repurposed Quiet Skies to surveil individuals based on their political activities, even when there is no evidence of wrongdoing,” Paul wrote.

The Senator further noted that the incidents “echo concerns highlighted in a previous report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), which identified critical deficiencies in TSA’s management of the Quiet Skies program.” 

Deficiencies include “insufficient oversight and inadequate safeguards to protect against the misuse of passenger data,” Paul added.

The Senator has requested all documentation relating to the procedure of adding people to the ‘Quiet Skies’ program.

Whistleblowers have confirmed that Gabbard has been monitored by air marshals on at least eight flights in the past month.

🚨🧵 @EMPOWR_us has confirmed from whistleblowers that @TulsiGabbard was under Quiet Skies surveillance on not just one, or two, or even three flights… She has had Air Marshals there to monitor her on EIGHT FLIGHTS since her July 23 interview with @IngrahamAngle.

Furthermore,… https://t.co/XMebbNgSZc

— Tristan Leavitt (@tristanleavitt) August 7, 2024

As we previously highlighted, Gabbard is suing the Biden Harris Administration over the matter.

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