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U.S. Air Marshals Infiltrated by Scumbags

If you want to relax and enjoy your travels this Thanksgiving, do not read this USA Today story on air marshals. You'll rest easier if you're unaware that more than three dozen U.S. air marshals have been charged with serious crimes since the agency was drastically expanded after 9/11. But since you've gotten this far, here's the lowdown: a recent ProPublica report points out a few of the more disturbing cases, which range from drug smuggling to bribery to trying to hire a hit man to off the old lady. A Las Vegas marshal, for example, was accused by his girlfriend of "pressing his thumbs into the corners of her eyes during a fight" and convicted of domestic battery. Uncool! An Orlando air marshal was busted "photographing women’s crotches on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while on a layover between missions." Weird and creepy! An air marshal from New York, meanwhile, stands accused of "shoving a flight attendant and waving his gun in a Los Angeles hotel." Extremely disconcerting! We understand that the crumb bums represent only a small percentage of the approximately 3,000 - 4,000 air marshals out there, but in absolute numbers, when close to 20 agents are charged with felonies and dozens of others are accused of misconduct, it doesn't inspire much confidence in the agency's hiring practices. Come on, these people are supposed to be the best of the best, and a heck of a lot is at stake when an incident occurs at 35,000 feet. Maybe the economic slowdown will be a benefit to the agency by adding more qualified applicants to the labor pool. If not, the next Air Marshal movie might be a comedy rather than an action thriller.

[Photo: msnbc.com]

Related Stories:
· Crimes by Air Marshals Raise Questions About Hiring [USA Today]
· Air Marshals and the Law [ProPublica]
· TSA Coverage [Jaunted]