A former Miss USA: 'Molested' by the TSA?
In a tearful video, former pageant winner Susie Castillo says a female TSA agent repeatedly touched her inappropriately during a security patdown

The video: In a video shot at Dallas Forth-Worth Airport this week (watch below), former Miss USA Susie Castillo says she was repeatedly groped by a Transportation Security Administration agent. "I completely feel violated," says Castillo, who explains that she chose a manual patdown instead of passing through a body scanner because she worries that the machines release harmful radiation. Describing her ordeal, Castillo claims that "this woman touched my vagina four times" and that the TSA is "making me choose to get molested — because that's what I feel like — or go through this machine that's completely unhealthy and dangerous."
The reaction: Since the TSA's "enhanced patdowns" began last fall, "I've heard from a variety of people who came out of the experience feeling seriously violated," says Mike Masnick at Techdirt. But most don't go public about it. "What I find most nefarious about the TSA groping brigade" is that it inflicts so much emotional damage on its victims that they choose to keep their humiliation private. The agency can try to defend its practices, says John Sexton at Hot Air, but incidents like this one highlight just how "stupid" they are. Let's face it: "If your procedure leads you to vigorously frisk Miss USA for a bomb, there’s a problem with your procedure." Watch Castillo's video below:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What's at stake in the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight?
Talking Points Vague accusations and First Amendment concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Why is a new Air Force One taking so long to build?
The Explainer Trump may look for alternatives for his new plane
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
New and notable podcasts for March
Feature The MeidasTouch Podcast and The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan
By The Week US Published