TSA nominee misled Congress about accessing confidential records

Washington Post ^ | January 1, 2010 | Robert O'Harrow Jr.

[FTJM]

The White House nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration gave Congress misleading information about incidents in which he inappropriately accessed a federal database, possibly in violation of privacy laws, documents obtained by The Washington Post show.

The disclosure comes as pressure builds from Democrats on Capitol Hill for quick January confirmation of Erroll Southers, whose nomination has been held up by GOP opponents. In the aftermath of an attempted airline bombing on Christmas Day, calls have intensified for lawmakers to install permanent leadership at the TSA, a critical agency in enforcing airline security.

Southers, a former FBI agent, has described inconsistencies in his accounts to Congress as "inadvertent" and the result of poor memory of an incident that dates back 20 years. He said in a Nov. 20 letter to key senators obtained by The Post that he had accepted full responsibility long ago for a "grave error in judgment" in accessing confidential criminal records about his then-estranged wife's new boyfriend.

[Political Junkie Too]

Southers, a former FBI agent, has described inconsistencies in his accounts to Congress as "inadvertent" and the result of poor memory of an incident that dates back 20 years.

Remember when we used to call this perjury?

Ask Scooter Libby what he thinks about "poor memory."

-PJ

[gov_bean_ counter]

Amazing, this offense would automatically and permanently disqualify him for a regular GS type job, but he is able to be considered for a Cabinet position. Words fail me.

[CitizenUSA]

Even more amazing, someone with absolutely no leadership experience and a background that is the antithesis of everything America supposedly stands for can be elected president! It STILL boggles my mind.

[gov_bean_ counter]

With every crisis, Obama creeps ever more closely to a nervous breakdown. He is amazingly disconnected from reality at this point and apparently fearful of returning to Washington to face questions much less criticism. I do not expect him to be able to finish his term.

[OCC]

After reviewing documents, he wrote, he recalled that he had twice conducted the database searches himself, downloaded confidential law enforcement records about his wife's boyfriend and passed information on to the police department employee, the letter said.

As long as he promises not to listen to terrorists phone calls, he should be good to go!

[CitizenUSA]

gov_bean_ counter: “He (Obama) is amazingly disconnected from reality at this point...”

I doubt he was ever really connected to reality in the first place. The world simply doesn’t work like he thinks. Sitting in an ivory tower, it’s easy to imagine a bold new world. But national abasement and negotiation does not bring world peace, and producers won’t long support “from each according to their ability, to each according to their need.”

It’s a great tribute to this country that we have survived such reckless leadership for as long as we have. How long before an American city is reduced to ashes or our economic system collapses outright?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Valid points. Thank you.

[GeronL]

To the Democrats this just means they need to rush his confirmation through faster.

[primatreat]

I agree with both of your assessment's about “0”. After reading about many of the new democrats dropping out from local races around the country, I feel like the “grassroots” American is becoming restless and disjointed with every passing F[up of this poweracholic in the peoples’ house. Out with the bastard!

Let him go find out how it is on the “other side” I can believe that when he is out of office he will not get ONE speaking tour. Too many TelePrompTers to tote around.

[Vaduz]

Obama has mastered grave error in judgment he selects people to posts that are clueless he just want yes persons around him just to speed up his *agenda* if you can call it that.

[Carley]

Vindicating DeMint.

Truth be told, not a single nominee for any position, has been a person of integrity, intelligence, or courage to do the right thing.

They are all corrupt individuals with nefarious goals.

[Carley]

Maybe he could ask Martha Stewart how she liked her jail cell.

[Scotsman will be Free]

“”inadvertent” and the result of poor memory of an incident that dates back 20 years.”
Hogwash! You don’t forget something like that.

[Scotsman will be Free]

“...Obama creeps ever more closely to a nervous breakdown...”
Now THAT would be funny.

[sergeantdave]

The WP still has enough power to herd the democrat zombies and stampede them in the desired direction. I’m surprised this article got though the WP obuma filters, then I realized that it’s New Years eve and the caretakers of Leninism are sprawled under their desks feeding nippled bottles of absinthe to their poodle lovers.

When the fairy ogres wake from their wormwood-induced trance, there will be calls for an investigation. Heads will roll.

Physicists are now circling the WP begging the scribblers to donate those heads to science so they can perform experiments in a vacuum.

[mazda77]

Saturday Night Live would receive new ratings peaks if “Plugs” got into the driver’s seat. Then again, every citizen of this country would benefit. I would expect Obama to declare Martial Law to quiet the masses before giving up.

[iopscusa]

‘I do not expect him to be able to finish his term’...I’ve been saying the same thing since Nov. 2008. Accordingly I think we should plan for total collapse of the US Economy as it is becoming inevitable.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

When the fairy ogres wake from their wormwood-induced trance, there will be calls for an investigation.

Sounds like you read the same stuff I do...

"When the fairies are displeased with anybody, they are said to send their elves to pinch them. The ecclesiastics, when they are displeased with any civil state, make also their elves, that is, superstitious, enchanted subjects, to pinch their princes, by preaching sedition; or one prince, enchanted with promises, to pinch another." (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan 1651)

[quietcontrarian]

TSA isn’t cabinet, but nonetheless, your point is dead-on. And he can’t blame Turbotax, either.