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Passenger alleges TSA harassed him, records questioning with iPhone

by Catherine Bodry (RSS feed) on Jun 22nd 2009 at 6:30PM

iPhone - a tool for freedom?

When Steve Bierfeldt was pulled aside and questioned by Transportation Security Administration at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in March, he activated an audio recording application on his iPhone and recorded the entire conversation. Bierfeldt was carrying $4,700 in cash, campaign donations for Ron Paul, and contends that the TSA both harassed and unlawfully detained him.

Bierfeldt was taken to a windowless room and questioned for nearly 30 minutes. A partial transcript of the interrogation shows Bierfeldt continually asking his legal rights, while agents continued to press him. At one point an agent says, "You want to play smartass, and I'm not going to play your f**king game."

Though Bierfeldt was eventually allowed to leave and catch his flight, American Civil Liberties Union have filed a lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, using his recorded questioning as evidence of unlawful detainment and harassment.

[Via CNN]

Filed under: North America, United States, Transportation, Airports

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

nismo334 Jun 22nd 2009 8:31PM

Sounds just like a Ron Paul Supporter, smart and aware of their rights. Good for them and I hope he gets heavily compensated for this.

Daniel A. Young, Sr. Mar 6th 2010 9:06AM

I received a settlement check. When I went to deposit it. The State Employees Credit Union wanted to know what the check was for. N.c. ACLU is in the pockets of the politicians and no one will take my case. This violated the confidential agreement I had with a creditor. Invaded my right to privacy.
and they put a 11 day hold on my check though it was addressed to me and had my name on the check and my address, with no erasures, or discrepancies.

Help ACLU of NY

I am hoping to use the incident to support my contention that

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