Man who bared it all at airport not about to bear TSA fine
John Brennan took off all of his clothes in the security line at Portland International Airport in April 2012. (Photo: KPTV)
PORTLAND (KPTV) -- The man arrested for taking off all of his clothes while going through security at Portland International Airport is challenging a $1,000 fine by the Transportation Security Administration.
John Brennan stripped in April 2012 after a TSA agent patted him down and after he declined to step into one of the body scanners or go through a metal detector.
"I was protesting their invasion of my privacy, my Fourth Amendment right and I felt I was assisting them in showing them that I was not carrying explosives," said Brennan, who was told that some nitrates were picked up on his clothing.
As part of the protest, Brennan took off all of his clothes during the security screening. Within minutes police showed up and arrested Brennan.
"I'm not suggesting we get rid of security. I'm just suggesting that they're going too far in what they're doing," added Brennan.
Last July a Multnomah County Circuit judge dropped criminal charges against Brennan, saying he was exercising his right to free speech.
The TSA, however, fined Brennan $1,000 for interfering with the screeners that day.
The TSA issued a statement saying "it doesn't normally comment on civil penalty cases … but that all its policies and procedures comport with the law and the Constitution."
"Part of the problem is that the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security have been set up so that they don't have a lot of judicial review, so the systems of checks and balances, which is designed to keep our democracy fair and square, is a little bit tilted here," said Brennan.
"What they need to do is find a balance between domestic security and our constitutional rights. Frankly, our constitutional rights are more important in the long run," added Brennan.
Brennan's hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning at a U.S. Bankruptcy courtroom.
If he loses, he can appeal that decision to a higher court, and he says he'll continue to fight till the end.