IP: Bush Secret Service agent removed from AA flight -- reportedly felt racial/religious profiling was involved

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-agent-removed1227dec27.story
Bush Agent Removed From Flight
By DOUGLAS KIKER
Associated Press Writer

December 27, 2001, 1:42 PM EST

BALTIMORE -- An Arab-American Secret Service agent assigned to President 
Bush's security detail was removed from an American Airlines flight after 
the pilot questioned his credentials, the Secret Service said Thursday.

American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke said "inconsistencies" in paperwork 
filled out by the armed agent prompted his removal Tuesday. The captain 
decided a more thorough check was needed to confirm the identity of the 
agent, the spokesman said.

Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Thursday 
that the agent told him he felt he had been kicked off the 
Baltimore-to-Dallas flight because of his religion and ethnicity.

<snip>

FBI spokesman Pete Gullota said an incident similar to the one Tuesday 
occurred shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Gullota said an armed, off-duty FBI agent from the Baltimore office was not 
allowed to board a plane by a pilot despite following the security 
procedures for armed agents. Gullota refused to identify the airline but 
said the issue was cleared up and resulted in the pilot's suspension.

"This, unfortunately, is not the first time something like that has 
happened," Gullota said. "In most instances the airlines are very happy to 
have us on-board. We don't just don't show up at gate armed. We go through 
routine and a whole lot of people are notified."

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