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CNN Live At Daybreak

Case of Arab-American Secret Service Agent Heats Up

Aired January 03, 2002 - 05:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The snafu over last week's incident involving a secret service agent's removal from an American Airlines flight is heating up now.

As CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports, the pilot is defending his actions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president flew to Crawford for his holiday break on Air Force One. The Arab-American agent was trying to get there ahead of him, when he was ejected from an American Airlines flight by the captain.

The pilot's official report obtained by CNN does not explain why the agent was removed from the flight initially, but it says that flight attendants became concerned when he left carry on bags behind and urged them not leave without him.

The report says -- quote -- "While the passenger was away, a flight attendant observed books in the individual's seat, which were written in what she assessed was Arabic-style print."

The paperwork the agent had filled out to carry a weapon on the flight was then checked, and according to the captain's account, it was unreadable and missing items. A second and third set of paperwork was then filled out incorrectly, according to the pilot.

The agent is described at one point as appearing nervous and anxious, and later as very hostile, making loud, abusive comments about bringing the power of the White House to bear. The pilot cited the events of September 11 and the case of Richard Reid, the alleged shoe bomber, in defending his actions, saying: "I needed to be 100 percent sure of his credentials. I was uncomfortable with his actions and did what a captain should do and edged toward the side of safety."

Another document obtained by CNN was written by the manager of American Airlines systems operation control. This individual, involved in the discussion about the agent's credentials, paperwork and behavior, barred him from flying on a later American flight. The manager says the agent admitted in a phone conversation filling out his paperwork incorrectly twice, and losing his temper -- quote -- "after being asked for his ID five separate times." The manager says he only became aware the agent was Arab-American later, -- quote -- "I was 1,000 miles away from the situation and handled it as we would any unruly passenger."

(on camera): A lawyer for the secret service agent says the documents contain inaccuracies. She says for instance that he client does not speak or read Arabic, and as for his behavior, she says he was never unprofessional or hostile. He was, she says, not happy to be ejected from a flight for what he believed were racially discriminatory reasons.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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