Some people are claiming that the TSA agent’s “pat downs” are rape. At ShinyBadge.com, we don’t believe in hyperbole or in trivializing rape, so we won’t make that comparison. And, of course, the TSA will sue you if you do!

What we’re talking about here is actual rape; a forceful act of penetration without consent.

For example, this happened with a Logan Airport TSA agent last year. See the story on Boston’s WCBV TV 5

BOSTON – A TSA employee at Logan International Airport is facing statutory rape charges Tuesday.

Sean Shanahan was arrested by police in Winthrop. Officials say he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl at his home during school vacation week.

Shanahan allegedly sent her sexually explicit text messages. TSA officials said Shanahan is no longer working at the airport.

“We can assure travelers every TSA employee is subject to a significant background check, including criminal history, before they are offered a job. Unfortunately, these checks do not predict future behavior,” TSA officials said in a statement.

Before you think this was an isolated incident, consider what this Federal Air Marshall was charged with:

A U.S. federal air marshal was arrested Saturday, accused of raping a woman at gunpoint inside a Seattle hotel room while on a layover for his job.

Lecheton “Omar” Settles, 30, has been charged with rape in the first degree and is being held at the King County jail with bail set at $250,000.

“We are shocked that a law enforcement officer would be accused of a crime this serious,” said King County Sheriff spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart.

To its credit, the TSA didn’t just give this guy a slap on the wrist, as it usually does. In this case, the TSA said:

In a statement, the TSA said the agency “holds all of its employees to the highest professional standards” and Settles was a probationary employee who was immediately terminated for the “misconduct.” Settles is scheduled to be arraigned April 28.

See the full story