The 'Don't Touch My Junk' Guy Speaks Out: Passengers Are Treated 'Like Criminals' (VIDEO)
John Tyner is an Internet sensation -- and he's become a bit of a folk hero. This weekend, the 31-year-old was ejected from a San Diego airport after refusing to submit to a full-body scan. Security officials then wanted to do a "pat-down" -- a frisking procedure that involves a "groin check." Next, Tyner made this now-famous reply: "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested."Instead, Tyner was nearly arrested. He was removed from the airport by security, and he now faces a potential lawsuit and $10,000 fine. On 'CNN Newsroom' (daily, 3PM ET on CNN), John discussed the issue of terrorism and the point that he was trying to make.
Tyler left his cell phone on during the TSA encounter, recording audio of the confrontation. The tape features Tyner saying to an official: "I don't understand how a sexual assault can be made a condition of my flying." The TSA agent insisted on a pat-down, saying it was not assault. "It would be if you weren't the government," John replied.
While speaking with CNN, Tyner argued that enhanced airport security hasn't made Americans any safer. He added that ordinary passengers, not TSA officials, had stopped terrorists like Richard Reid and the "Underwear Bomber." In fact, CBS News has reported that despite a $200 million budget, the TSA has never prevented a single terrorist from boarding a plane.
"We oughta stop treating passengers like criminals and start treating them like heroes," Tyner concluded.
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