The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has alleged that former Biden administration officials misused Transportation Security Administration (TSA) watchlists to target January 6 suspects and mask violators for enhanced screening and denial of boarding.
DHS Alleges TSA Watchlists Were Weaponized Under Biden Administration
According to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, an internal review concluded that TSA officials improperly used the Quiet Skies program and other watchlisting tools against US citizens who were “not aviation security threats.” The report alleges that individuals connected to the treasonous January 6, 2021 rebellion and those who resisted mask mandates were among those targeted. In some cases, passengers were denied boarding or repeatedly subjected to additional screening “without cause.”
These officials, under the direction and leadership of former Biden TSA Administrator David Pekoske, systematically watchlisted and denied boarding to those who exercised their individual rights and resisted mask mandates on airplanes nearly six months after the CDC relaxed its indoor mask mandate.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who ordered the review after assuming her role leading DHS, has removed five senior TSA officials and referred the matter to the Department of Justice and Congress for further investigation. The report also points to favoritism, noting that exemptions were granted to politically connected individuals (such as the husband of a Democratic U.S. Senator) while others were flagged without justification. The program reportedly cost hundreds of millions of dollars while failing to prevent a single terrorist attack.
Analysis
The allegations raise serious questions about the misuse of aviation security programs. Watchlists exist to protect passengers and the aviation system, not to punish political opponents or people who hold unpopular views. The DHS report alleges clear evidence of abuse and suggests that existing safeguards were ignored. That makes this more than a partisan talking point, even though there’s more than a tad of irony in the Trump Administration suddenly concerned about free speech or the rights of the accused.
From my perspective, there are many key details still lacking that make any assessment of this news impossible. Those who violated federal mask mandates, while they were in place, were left on the watchlist even after the mandate was lifted. Reducing this to targeting those who “exercised their individual rights” is a gross simplification and obsfuscation. I hate wearing masks and was always against the mask mandate. That said, the Biden Administration was within its powers to issue such a mandate, even if it was based more on fear than on public health. And those who violated it were rightfully placed on a watchlist, not because they were a health threat to others, but because they violated a lawful federal mandate.
As for the January 6th protestors, the question is who was added to the watchlist? Just people in DC that day or those who were identified as actually breaking into the Capitol complex, an act of treason. I won’t defend placing everyone who showed up on January 6th to protest in the same group that attacked the Capitol. But there’s no transparency here. Recall that the “law and order” President pardoned violent protesters who stormed the Capitol that day, including thugs like David Dempsey, Shane Jenkins, Kyle Fitzsimons, and Kenneth Bonawitz, all of whom should have been executed instead of pardoned.
What happens next will depend on whether the Justice Department pursues criminal or civil action and whether Congress takes up the matter with hearings or new legislation (of course, another opportunity to grandstand).
Politics aside, while DHS has moved quickly to remove those it deems falsely implicated, the broader concern is how easily systems designed for counterterrorism were repurposed for domestic politics…and since payback is a…well, you know…will the new administration use those same tools to target those it deems a threat? Without stronger guardrails, the same tools could be abused again under this and future administrations.
For that reason, I’m glad to talk about it…and I’m glad that Noem is exposing any potential abuses in the prior administration. I’m just not convinced yet that those added to the watchlist did not belong on it.
CONCLUSION
DHS is alleging that watchlists were turned into political tools under the Biden administration. If true, this represents a major breach of public trust and a misuse of programs intended for national security. But will the Trump administration now misuse those same programs against its enemies? Whether these allegations lead to accountability in the courts or in Congress remains to be seen, but I certainly hope that if Congress investigates, the goal will not be retribution, but ensuring this sort of thing never happens again, regardless of who is in the White House.
Executed? Really?
I personally didn’t approve of the blanket pardons but they were sentenced based on the law and none were sentenced to death.
While I agree with you at times more death penalty cases “might” serve as a deterrence, what other crimes not involving direct murder are you good with the DP on as well?
Drug dealing that results in death?
DUI causing death?
Human trafficking?
Rape?
Hell Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is still not sentenced to death and probably won’t be.
Yes, death for all of those offenses…in theory. Requires a just legal system, which I don’t think we have. So more an aspiration.
Mohammed should have been hung 20 years ago.
You still going on about that? I have news for you moron: No one except democrats view that as anything more than a protest. Trump won and those people were pardoned. You lose. All your execution raving can’t change that.
You’re so much more of a fool than I thought if you truly believe that.
Mattie you are 100 percent correct!!!
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY believe it, and I resent your sneering, fatuous insistence that it is anything but the case, and I dare you to explain how a band of protestors armed with nothing but selfie sticks and picket signs walking around a supposedly public building could by ANY stretch of the imagination be considered a treasonous rebellion.
As a lawyer (A justifiably hated profession btw), you sometimes give your two cents on travel issues that relate to the law, like that hideous fat woman you posted about yesterday. The constitution defines treason as levying war against or adhering to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort. So how are the Jan 6 protestors “traitors” Mr. Lawyer? Did they wage war against the US with their selfie sticks and their angry slogans? Did they adhere to the enemies of our country? If so, who? Republicans? Donald Trump?
Or are you just another raving democrat who talks without thinking?
Ok, see, we’re talking…that’s exactly why I wrote the comment in that way and to your credit, you engage…which is why I was surprised to see your blanket defense of these thugs. I find it so unbecoming of you.
I have a friend in LA who joined the mob and walked through the halls of the Capitol…but did nothing else. I can vaguely understand a pardon for her, though she has no remorse for what she did and entered through a broken window. But will you truly defend the people I mentioned like David Dempsey, Shane Jenkins, Kyle Fitzsimons, and Kenneth Bonawitz? Violent, destructive, treasonous thugs (hunting down Mike Pence) …the same sort of people that I also condemned who burned cities in “solidarity” with another thug named George Floyd. Free speech does not justify the destruction of property and physical violence.
Did you watch the events of 1/6/21 as I did? Did you see these raving lunatics try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power because they were misled to believe that the election was stolen from Trump? And that Trump did nothing to tell them to stand down? This is a textbook case of treason, just like the enemies who tried to undermine the federal government during the Civil War. There was far more going on than tourists waving selfie sticks. You must admit that.
If you’ve got a few minutes, watch this and tell me if we can find some common ground:
(and I’m not a Democrat…I’m a traditional conservative and there is nothing conservative about Trump)
I’m not defending the people you mentioned. I will point out though that all of the ones you specifically listed were convicted of assaulting police officers, which is indeed a crime, but NOT treason. As I mentioned, and as you well know, treason is levying war against or adhering to the enemies of the US, which plainly did not happen. So how can you justify execution?
Furthermore those individuals were only a tiny fraction of the participants involved, the vast majority of which were ordinary protestors who had legitimate reasons to distrust the election results. The rules were changed in the run up to the election to make mail-in-voting, and therefore fraud, easier. I still believe that is what allowed Biden to “win” the election. They had every right to make their voices heard by disrupting crooked congress and their dumb ceremony. It didn’t change the outcome, and I doubt anyone expected it to. It was funny watching all those weasels cowering from their angry constituents and then getting to claim they were the victims of an “insurrection” – such clowns.
@Chi: I’m glad you’re not defending those criminals…why would Trump grant them full pardons?
I agree with you that Trump would have won had Democrats not changed election rules and pushed mail-in voting…see, I’m not so unreasonable.
But it wasn’t unlawful…and obviously, Trump’s team adjusted well because Harris got trounced in 2024. Changing the rules within the law did not give license to people to attack the Capitol…if people have a problem with “crooked Congress and their dumb ceremony,” then the solution is to elect different leaders. That’s how we do it here, not attempt to burn the house down when we lose elections. These people had every right to peacefully protest, but no right to try to prevent the lawful transfer of power, which itself was the act of treason against the US Constitution. This was a war against the US Constitution…just waged by a very stupid enemy.
@Chi Shaun: you are dumb, and if there was any doubt before, there no longer is. Thank God you dont have kids
Good rebuttal, and I actually do have a kid, lets call him “Chi Hsuan Jr.” and he’s even more cutting than I am. He says you’re a microcephalic mongoloid Sh&twinkle
@Matthew – Fair enough, though I still disagree that it could be called treason given the very strict definition of treason, and also that the protest was not a serious attempt by them to overthrow the government or prevent the transfer of power, but rather to disrupt the ceremony and make their displeasure heard. I think Trump pardoned them because their sentences were too harsh. Many others were prosecuted (harassed) for simply entering the building.
On that Bill Maher video – He’s funny, and reasonable, but I have to disagree also that republicans are moving us towards autocracy. I would also have much more respect for the left if they ditched the gender nonsense and treated illegal aliens like illegal aliens instead of future voters.
Billy Bob you got real quiet when the Kirk shooter was proven to be a tranny loving leftist like we had said all along.
Your little mind seems incapable of understanding the big picture. What exactly where these ‘protestors’ trying to do? Why did they breach the Capitol? What weapons exactly did they need to carry for it to be a ‘rebellion’ in your empty little mind?
Their goal was to over throw an election they had been erroneously led to believe was fraudulent. And they are still at it. It was treasonous by Trump and his thugs as Trump rallied his ‘troops’ to attack the Capitol and to ‘fight like hell’. We also know that members of Trump’s family and confidants asked him to call off the mob but he did not. This was done in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of Presidential power. How is not rallying a angry violent mob of domestic terrorists to storm the US Capitol and stop the transfer of Presidential Power not treason? Why in the world would it matter what types of weapons they used to do this?
You are wrong, and you know it. Even a small minded person like yourself knows that. The question is why do you get off playing the adversary? How small and insignificant and cowardly must one feel to stoop so low?
Pardoning the terrorists doesn’t change their crimes, nor history. It only leaves a lasting tarnish of the blood shed, and the fact that so many ‘Americans’ let Trump get away with it, and even continue to misrepresent facts and lie about it on his behalf.
That is not only embarrassing but pathetic.
Matthew I completely agree, summary execution is the only way. Bring back Old Testament justice.
Matthew like most Dems are angry the Schumer shutdown will finally allow Russ Vought to purge the rest of the parasite class from the federal government.
Not a Democrat, honey, just a patriot who hates what Agent Orange is doing to our country.
I’d rather have Agent Orange than Commie-La
At least we actually for the first time cut some mandatory spending and stopped allowing girls in boys sports
This country could not have survived 4 years of Commie-La.
Maybe the Dems will learn their lesson and nominate someone somewhat sane like Fetterman or even a Jon Bel Edwards in 2028
More women have accused Trump of rape than there are actual Trans athletes in college sports.
Alledged is the keyword. MAGA reporting at its finest! You cannot believe anything that this administration says!!!
This administration has been proven correct time and time again.
The Biden regime was corrupt and dangerous. They used lawfare to jail peacefully jan 6th protestors who justly protested a corrupted election.
Glad Trump have political prisoners the justice they deserved. However Ashli Babbitt murderer is still free.
Peaceful Jan 6 protestors. What the actual fuck drugs are you taking that you actually believe the lies your spewing.
There has never in the history of America been a President as corrupt as Trump. Full stop.
The once great America I grew up in is dead … and I have maga asshats like yourself to thank for that.
Only people who were killed on Jan 6th were those there to protest and it’s hard to argue with someone as stupid as you who continues to parrot democrat talking points. The america you loved is dead and it deserved to die, maga will rebuild this nation in our image.
Stop spouting lies about January 6 and the 2020 election. It’s truly pathetic you actually believe that shit.
Free speech deserved to die? Political opponents deserve to be jailed.
Sounds like you have far more common with Putin.
Anyways, the convicted rapist is taking this country to hell.. and asshats like you are cheering it on.
They aren’t lies they are truths.
Only liars are you people who claim a mostly peaceful and justified protest was an “insurrection” especially after a summer of actual antifa and blm terror riots.
My enemies aren’t in Moscow, Beijing or Tehran they are my neighbors, coworkers and people in government.
@Ryan: I agree with your points, but please watch the language.
It’s called meth. The drugs Walter Barry is on is called meth
I was proven right again just like when I said Kirk shooter was a lefty. Facts proving me right again.
He wasn’t a lefty.
Peaceful protestors on January 6th! If you call smashing windows, shouting Hang Mike Pence, beating police officers, etc., peaceful, I’d really hate to see what you consider not peaceful!
As for the Biden admin being corrupt – provide facts, not opinions or MAGA talking points.
It’s par for the course from the corrupt Democrats.
I thank God everyday that Trump won and saved us from today Marxist clowns. I just hope he has the stomach to start hauling them off to jail for life.
Our lord and savior the felony rapist President has come to save us all by working to imprison his opponents, kill off any sort of free speech, alienate us on the world..
It’s fucking despicable to talk about jailing your political opponents just because your dumb enough to believe the alt right propaganda your being spoon fed.
Its not propganda when it’s is proven correct.
People like you and a majority of democrats/leftists are a fifth column.
You state that “the Biden Administration was within its powers to issue such a mandate” however this was determined not to be true in Health Freedom Defense Fund, Inc. v. Biden. The Court ruled that the CDC lacked the statutory authority to issue such mandates. This doesn’t address the question of whether people should have disregarded the mandate while the courts were litigating the issue, but it does confirm that it was an abuse of power.
It’s regrettable that we don’t have any islands in the South Atlantic under our control. It would have been the ideal place for the traitors and Typhoid Marys. So execution it is. I will not weep for any Repugnant taken to the gallows (and it’s the gallows for them, since I think it’s humorous when they lose bladder and bowel control as their necks are broken), especially anyone involved in or approves of the Trump Shutdown.
You mean the Schumer shutdown. It was a blessing in disguise, it will allow Trump to get rid of more of the parasite class in Washington
Democrats are about to lean a hard lesson in unintended consequences.
You are about to learn a hard lesson when your $100 a month SSDI check stops coming and you won’t be able to buy your fentanyl anymore.
Better take the wheels off your trailer before the repo man tows it away!
That’s the one funny thing about the Schumer shutdown is all the Democrat voting leeches will lose all their welfare. Hope it never opens again keep it shut down for good
Trump in his own words owns this….
“ “A shutdown falls on the president’s lack of leadership. I mean the top, and they have to get solved from the top. A shutdown means the President is weak.”
– Donald Trump 2013
More allegations from those that told us Ohio immigrants were stealing and eating pets, that FEMA was stealing money, that the election was stolen, and that insurrection never happened. He needs to put up some better numbers and as Vance later said about the immigrants ” so what if it’s not true ” This is a desperate dog whistle to rile up their base for the mid-term election.
and that all turned out to be true.
Sure Walter, stay delusional if it gets you through the day.
It is just so funny how every member of Trump’s cabinet is a freak. He went out of his way to pick the biggest group of losers who have been made fun of all their lives to run the country. And we’re still laughing at them and they just don’t get it.
His whole administration is a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode at any moment. And it will…trust me, it will.
They are great, they are loyal and they are doing what he wants them to. Not like last time when it was weak willed bush type “republicans” hanging on the lie that we need to come “together with the opposition”.
Not just freaks but incompetant as well.
Executed? They were protesting our out of control government.
The federal government is violating our constitution daily in so many ways.
Matthew, What about the politicians of both parties that are bought and purchased by AIPAC and funding a genocide in Gaza?
What about the same politicians that hide the Epstein files? Shouldn’t they be tried for treason?
There is no genocide in Gaza – Israel is acting within its rights to defend itself and has gone out of its way to minimize civilian loss, even though Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields.
No, hiding the Epstein files does not constitute treason. But if any politician,including POTUS, has been found to have raped, then yes…execution for that, or at least castration.