TV Host with Breast Cancer Forced to Remove Wig as Part of ‘Horrific’ TSA Body Search
Denise Albert, the co-founder of The MOMS, is speaking out after what she calls an “horrific” pat down from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at the Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday — all over medication related to her breast cancer treatment.
Albert, who is a frequent guest on PIX11 Morning News, told the outlet that she was traveling through security when she was pulled aside by agents for a manual search. The cause for further search was a medical cream she had packed in her carry on luggage, Albert told PIX11.
Albert wrote on The MOMS website that the medical cream is not usually an issue and she’s been granted approval to carry it on other flights. She also noted that she made the agents aware of the medication and her medical port before the patdown.
“I don’t know what was different this time but TSA agents aggressively attempted to do a body cavity search in public,” said Albert in the post. “I was TSA precheck and once through the scanner they asked me to take off my shoes. I explained I didn’t have socks on and that my cream is for an infection from my current treatment, including on my feet.”
According to Albert, the TSA agents told her they needed to perform a full body pat down, using “as much pressure” as necessary.
She was forced to remove her wig, and remained barefoot for at least 20 minutes during the ordeal.
“I told them my feet were freezing,” Albert wrote online. “Also a side effect from chemo. They refused to help me. The woman reached behind me and forceable and aggressively put her hands down my jeans in the back.”
She explained, “When I kept asking why they needed to do all of this, they kept saying because I wanted to bring medical cream on the plane.”
The entire incident was caught on camera, and only ended when a supervisor arrived and moved the emotional Albert to a private room “for a regular soft pat down,” she said, noting that all of her bags were still searched.
“The 2 TSA agents in my video went too far,” wrote Albert. “I hope no one ever experiences this.”
Albert was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in late 2015, and began chemo and radiation in February after having a lumpectomy.
Albert told PIX11 of the experience, “It was overwhelming and horrific. I could not believe what was happening.”
According to the TSA website, those with TSA Precheck do not need to remove their shoes. Further, if a passenger has a medical condition, they also do not need to remove their shoes. Necessary medication and creams are allowed, but the passenger must inform the TSA officer before the screening begins and the product must pass through an X-ray scanner.
In a statement to PIX11, the TSA said, “The Transportation Security Administration takes reports of alleged impropriety very seriously.”
“TSA is currently looking into the specific details as to what occurred during the screening process to ensure our security protocols were followed,” the statement continued. “We regret any distress the security screening process may have caused the passenger. We will work with the passenger directly to address her concerns.”
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