Rand Paul, a U.S. Senator from Kentucky and son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, was held at Nashville International Airport Monday morning for refusing to complete the screening process after he triggered an alarm.
The Transportation Security Administration claimed Rand Paul triggered an alarm during routine airport screening and refused to complete the screening process in order to resolve the issue, TSA spokesman Jon Allen said.
The scanner found an “anomaly” on Paul’s knee, according to the Associated Press.
Paul claimed he asked for another scan but refused a pat down by airport security and was then detained at a small cubicle and missed his flight.
Paul said the situation reflects his long-standing concern that the TSA shouldn’t be “spending so much time with people who wouldn’t attack us.”
Passengers who refuse to comply with security procedures are denied access to the secure gate area, Allen said. Paul was escorted out of the screening area, Allen said.
“When an irregularity is found during the TSA screening process, it must be resolved prior to allowing a passenger to proceed to the secure area of the airport,’’ Allen said. “Passengers who refuse to complete the screening process cannot be granted access to the secure area in order to ensure the safety of others traveling.’’
Rand Paul’s office claimed the senator set off the full body scanner and then refused the subsequent full pat down. A posting on Ron Paul’s Facebook page also had a comment about the incident.
Paul did book another flight out of Nashville International and was screened again without incident, Allen said.
Paul was flying to Washington D.C., to speak at a March for Life rally, according to his Facebook page.