Conservative TSA critic says he was detained in retaliation

{mosads}”When Jones contested the point, arguing that numerous travelers in their 40′s had not removed their shoes, other TSA agents ordered him to take off his shoes, before Jones was approached by a police officer who immediately got in his face and started threatening him with arrest,” the article continued. “Despite Jones’ protests that he was clearly being discriminated against because he was a known critic of the TSA (the rest of the TSA screeners also knew him by name), the officer growled, “Take your damn shoes off or I’m gonna arrest you.'”

Other TSA critics, including notable lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have accused the agency of targeting them at airport security checkpoints.

TSA denied Jones was unfairly targeted, saying that almost all passengers are required to remove their shoes.

“TSA’s objective is to mitigate risk in a way that ensures security measures while both promoting the safe movement of people and commerce and guarding against a deliberate attack against our transportation systems,” the agency said in a statement that was provided to The Hill.

“The agency has implemented a number of risk-based security measures including modified screening procedures for passengers 12 and under, passengers 75 and older, and members of the military as well as TSA Pre-Check/Global Entry participants,” the TSA statement continued. “All other passengers must undergo shoe screening and passengers with a disability or hindering medical condition who cannot remove their shoes can be screened using alternative methods.”

-This post was updated with new information at 3:48 p.m.